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DEFENCE OF SOUTHERN SLAVERY. 

AGAINST THE ATTACKS 7 1^ V 



u. 



HENRY CLAY AND ALEX'R. CAMPBELL. 



INWniCH MUCH OF THE FALSE PHILANTHFOPY AND MAWKISH SENTIMEE- 

TALISM OF THE ABOLITIQNISTS IS MET AND REFUTED. IN WHICH 

IT id MOKEOVER SHOWN THAT THE ASSOCIATION OF THE WHITE 

-AND BLACK RACES IN THE RELATION OP MASTER AND SL*;':." 

IS THE APPOINTED ORDER OF GOD, AS SET FORTH IN 

THE BIBLE, AND CONSTITUTES THE BEST SOCIAL 

CONDITION OF BOTH RACES, AND THE ONLY 

TRUE PRINCIPLE OP REPUBLICANISM. 



BY A SOUTHERN CLERGYMAN. 



I1AMS55J3KS, .6. C. 

PRINTED BY ROBINSON AND CARLISLE. 

1851. « 






// 



TO THE READER.. 



This Pamphlet corrtains a review of Mr. Clay's " Letter on Emancipation "' 
and strictures on Mr. Catnpbi'll's " Tract for the penple of Kentucky " These 
anemiesof itie South threw their mischievous pro(hictions belore the country during' 
the canvass in Kentucky, for a Convention to alter the Constitution of that State. 
Their professed object was to effect the ahciliiion of slavery in Kentucky. The 
author answered them because he conceived, that while each pretended to write 
for the people nf Kentucky, and in reference to slavery in that State, both made 
a gencr;d attack upon the Fnstitution of slavery everywhere, but more especiallv, 
as existing in the tsouthern States of this confederacy. He now^ presents these 
answers to the public in pamphlet form, because he desires to cast the raiteof liia 
influence into the scale of Southern Rights at this crisis, and ho.[)cs this humble 
tract V i.11 assist Southerners to form correct views of their ng'lits.and of the rectitude 
of their Institution as appointed of God and. s-ustained by the Bible. The letter on 
esiiancipatidn fell into my hands in the spriii^ ofTS40,.and the Review was written 
and pubIi^hed in the Augusta Constitulionai!ist, in May, and was copied and cir- 
culated in Kentucky, during their Convention aunvass. The Millennial Harbinger 
ot May, 1S-|9, containing Mr. Carn|ibell's Tiaat for the people of Kentucky, was 
handed me about the middle of Ji*ne, by a Iniend, who. had read the Review cf 
Mr. Clay, requesting ine to answer Mr. Campbell ; accordingly,, in the midst of 
absorbing engat^c rnents, these strictures wi-ne- written, and a rougii draft mailed 
to an Editor in Kentucky, which eiiher mi.-earrK,'d or did not arriwe in time Wir 
circulation, previous to their Cdnvcntinn election, and they l;iiled to be published. 
The piece h ■ s been read to some half dozen, persons, all of whom have expressed 
high approbation of it, as containing a useful defence of fhe Fnstitution of slavery 
and Worthy of publication. The style m-iy be condemed by some as being rather- 
sarcastic, and the writer may be blamed for itsapuirning the motives, especii-lly ot 
Me Clay. The cour.«e since pursued by him in the American Congress must, 
however, convince every .'>outherner that Mr Clay's object is to reach the Presidency 
by making the degradation, of the -whnle South, the stepping sti>ne to his elevation.. 
Hence, he volunteered his services to the ubolitiouistLsto lejid hn planning and cT- 
ryingout those measures of public planderingand robbery, which haveunder thede- 
delusive name of compromjse given to the .North,.the vvholie of the public Territoiy 
and put the Sontbinto a picdicament, wlure she must either leave the Union or be 
ruined, lie has- within this year, havmg tlio same object (the white house; in view, 
labored in Congress to earn}',, by the abolition majority, the iweasure of establishing 
a line of Steurncrs between the United States and Africa, ostensibly to enable the 
ubitlition govirnment nl this coimlr.y, to |nircliase rtw^i serais to Africa, the slaves o 
the f o'lth (to be purchased, however, by fa.xHii: the owners to pay tnemselv; s):. 
The only practical result of which line would! be foafTord the abolifiwnists facility 
in stealing our slaves and riddinir thein.selves ot them by shipping them to Afrua,. 
at our expense. We think the cloven foot of the traitor to the South, has been «Kj 
dielinotly stuclc out in the whole of Mr. Clay'.i cuu.se, a>; to be discerned and re- 



ii. TO THE READER 

]irohated by all the friends of tlift South, ami we arc not disposed to fake back or 
extenmte, any of ihe seeming severity used in tlic Review of his einancipatioa 
document two ieais ago. If any, who have read that Review as published m 
ncws-[)aper form, may net iipprcciritc this form and be disposed to thrown tliis 
painpliiit aside, without perusal, we advise them to read the st-ictures on Mr. 
Campbell's Tract, which have not been publislied until nov.', and remember that 
thousands have never seen the other. We have consented to throw the answers 
to Clay and Campbell before the P'Ublic, together in one pamphlet, because their 
productions form a combined effort to destroy the Institution of slavery. Mr. 
Cauji bell followmt; in the wake of Mr. Clay, aiming to clinch the nails which be 
liad driven : And further, because in meeting and rcfutins^ th«> sophisms of these 
men, much of the false philanlhr 'phy and mawkisb scntitnentiilism of abolitionists 
everywhere is undermined and their folly exposed, it is mainly for this purpose 
that we felt it a duly both to write and publish these answers. On looking them 
over w'ith the cool rcflLjction of two years, we perceive that the style and i)reser>- 
tation of the truth nnght be so amended as to attach to this pamphlet more d gnity 
of character, and probably give it more influence for good : but to rewrite, would be 
too laborious, and to trouble printers with extensive alterations unplca'<ant, and for 
neither of wiiich has the wiiter spare time. Perhaps too, these very defects may 
exempt the pamphlet and its author from cviticisin,aff jrding an excuse to those who 
may wince under the inflictions of the truth, not to "lick the file" in attemptinjf 
the overthrow of these positions. 

In coaclusion we take the liberty of s:jo;j;esting to Messrs. Clay and Campbell 
and the whole clan of the abolitionists, that it is a serious business for short 
sighted worms of the human race, to set themselves up under any motives as 
censorsof God's Institutions, and judges to decide against his providential arrange- 
ments. Such must expect roU:;h handling by the friends of truth here and what 
IS yet more iearful, they cannot escape the judgment of God. What especially 
must be the reckoning of such as admit the Institution of slavery to be sustained by 
" the law and gospe! of God" and then professing to *ake the word of God for the 
man of their counsel, join with tiie unhallowed hosts of infidels to put it down as 
ojiposi'd by "the spirit of the a^je" ? U ut we forbear further remarks. 

Ap:il ISol. A yOUTHERN CLERGYMAN. 



DEFENCE OF SLAVERY, 

IN ANSWER TO MR, CLAY. 



Mr. Editor:— I have seen in a Northern print, to which it had been sent, 
with the sped of the telegraph, Mr. Clay's late chapter on emancipation; 
and thmluntr its publication at this special juncture likely to be prodnrtive 
ofsonie evil, 1 beg h place in your columns to expose its fallacious sophisms 
by applying to it the scriptural test. 

In the ^d verse he says "I am avvarp that there are respectable persons 
who believe that slavery is a blessing, thiit the institution ought to 
exist in every well organized society and that it is even ftivora- 
ble to the preservation of liberty. Happily the number who entertain 
these extravagant opinions is not very great and the time would be use- 
lessly occupied in an elaborate refutation of them." Now. sir, we think 
that Mr. Clay is much mistaken on this point; for we humbly 'trust that 
there are but lew Soutlieriiers who do not hold the very opinions on the 
subject of slavery which he has been pleased to denominate so '•extrava- 
gant," as to need no waste of time on their ''refntiition" ; and we further 
think that gentleman would find it a far more laborious, and tven presump- 
tuous task than he has once imagined, to refute tliose opinions: foi they 
are the veritable opinions entertained on the same subject by the God of 
the universe. Any attempt, therefore to refute them' would involve an 
open conflict with the God of lieaven, and lead to the rejection of his re- 
vealed truth. That Mr. Clay may be convinced that such would be tlie 
predicament of himself, or any .other abolitionist assuming his position, let 
iiim but answer these questions: did not God intend the Jewish nation, 
as his favorite and peculiar jieople, to exist in a well organized stiite of 
society ? was not such his special object in separating them from the idola- 
trous nations of the world, and placing them under hiws of his own devis- 
ing to be executed under his pi-rsonal administration? We next --isk him, 
if God did not incorporate with the Jewish polity, slavery, consisting in 
perpetual bondage ? What is remarkable too it. was negro slavery, or 
the I ondage of the Canaanitish descendants of Ham, whom God author- 
ized to be held in hereditary bondage, under tlie laws of the Jewish polity. 
Leviticus xxv. 45. Again we ask Mr. Clay, or any of his coadjutors at the 
North, (for we liope he has none at the South.) whether God, in his infinite 
goodness, did not see that slavery woulil be a blessing, both to the master 
and servant, as the ground of his appointment of the institution amonrrst 
his chosen people ? And ii' he had seerr slavery to be a social and moral 
«;vil, would he not have inflicted a curse, and not a blessing upon the na- 
tion whom it was his intention to bless? We ask further, whether, if 
the omniscient God did not know that the institution of slavery would, in 
its character and Influence, tend to the preservation of true liberty, civil 
and religious, among the Jews, would he have incorporated it into their 
government ? 1 suppose Mr. Clay will admit the practical tendenc}' (;f sla- 
very to the preservation of liberiy, in the case of Lott's recapture from the 
combined forces of the four Kings, and restoration to Ids liberty and his 
possessions by the three hundred and eighteen young men. slaves of Abra- 
|;ani) born in his house. Gen. xiv. 14. 



6 A DEFENCE OF SLAVER V, 

Iti regard to llie sciiptural view of slavery, under the Gospel dispensa- 
tion, vvc Udli Air. Clay, or any oi his ISort.liern associates, to point us to a 
wiugle prveej)t or vvuni. uttiretl by Jesus Christ, or iiis Apusllis, prohibi- 
tory Oi slavery, or even passini^ the lirst intiaiiition ol eensure against tiie 
iusiiuitiou. VV'ere not lue Christian Cliurehes I'oundcd by Ciuist and hi« 
Aj-usi.li's. well organized socieiius I would Air. Clay, or any other than au 
avowed iididel dispute lliut laCc ? and yet in liiese ehurches were slaves, 
u])un whom, toward tlair owners, the strongest injui ctions to submissive 
obedience and raiiiiiulnes.s were every where most positively urged, by^ 
lae inspired writers ol tlie New Testament ; and the strongest terms of 
reprouaiion used against such us should attiinpl to teach sentiments sub- 
versive ol' the iustiuuion ot' slavery and tending to corrupt slaves: see 1 
Tim. vi. i-6: see the epistle to Philemon, in which Paul practically 
taught I lie iucompatibiaty ot' a slave's escaping the service ot" liis master 
wall the divine lorgiveness and ehrisUan pro.ession of such lugitive 
ilave. Under ihcst; instructio s, Onesmius ielt lumseil' bound, as a 
Christian convert, to return to the serv ee ol his muster. But we asii, at 
this point, ir the omniscient tSaviour and his inspired Apostles wouid have 
insULuled regulalioas lor the perpetual continuance oi slavery li they iiad 
not recognised the inslilution to be a blessing to well oigauized socicity ; 
and that its tendency was to preserve lioerly, rational and just, both in 
cliurch and btate I We would ask Mr. Clay, too to point us lo any speci- 
men olcivii government based epon principles ol' rt-publican iVeedom, more 
pure and elevated Ihaii that exhibited in the New Testament ciiureli polity? 
3et,witli that polity ,01 divine ajipuintmenlaiui regulation, slaver) isindisso- 
Junly and inseparably interlinked. For wilhout the existence ol slavery 
there would be an ultcr inapplicabilily both oi the terms master and slave, 
and of the rules, given ia the scriptures, lor tlie regulation of ti.e relative 
duties ol the two classes, in any social state from which the institution 
ot slavery is excluded ; and furthermore there would be, in such sucieiy 
u str.inge incomprehensibility in the Saviour's illustrations, and in the 
tropes and tiguies of all the sacred writers, in illusion lo the institution 
ol slavery. VV e say, therefore, slavery is inseparably connected with Gospel 
Ciiurch government, because. on iiible authority, slavery ol some form, must 
necessarily exist in every well organized society. And we think that 
modern lanaticism. in its attempt lo pervert God's institution of sla- 
very, and especially negro slavery, must bring upon the fanatics them- 
seives, (and upon the poor negroes likewise collaterally,) the I hgiiting 
curse ol iieaven fur presuming to ch irge God with wroi.g. and for hlasphe- 
niouiily attempting the change of his appui.itments in direct contrauiction 
to hid authority, as published in the Bible, containing his revealed will to 
man Let Mr. Clay read the niiitli chapter of Genesis, and siy whether 
the curse iiiHicted upon Canaan and his posterity, and the annexetl prophecy 
ot their servitude, in tlie Ibrm too of slavery (tor the terms imply bon- 
dage,) do not indicate the Caiiaanitish or African race, as doomed, under 
the appointment of God, to perpetual servitude. That curse gave the 
flat skull, and other physical changes, which stamp upon thtm interiority 
ol intellect, and iheir whole history has. thus far, shown them incapable 
of Self government, and to be constitutionally iitied to enjoy civil and 
religious freedom, in its highest blessing to them, only in a state of slavery 
or absolute servitude, under the other races of Noah. Look at the history 
o{' the negro every where, when left to himself. In tlieir native land, 
their state is savage idolatry, in wliich, previous to llie adoption oi' 
God's institution ol" slavery among them, their tribes were engaged 



IN ANSWER TO MR. CLAY. "V- 

in reieritless warAirej delighting in the most cruel butchery of cap- 
lives. And even a few weeks since, I believe within this year, six hunderd 
poor captives were put to death by a petty tyrant of Ai'rica, because of hfs 
disappointment in selling them upon the coast for Ibrtign transportation ! 
Will Mr Clay pretend to say that their purchase and shipment to a Chris- 
tian land, to exist in perpetual bondage under the Caucassiun race, would 
not have been, in every sense, to them, a most mercilVil deliverance ? And 
does the condition of the race, enlightened and Ciirisiianized throuirh sla- 
very among the whites, receive benefit or improvement Irom emancipation? 
The degraded state and squalid condition oT tiie poor negroes in the so 
called free Slates, show them to be greatly injured, civilly and morally, by 
being tlirown upon their own resources among the whites: and hence 
the wisdom and prudence of the free negro whom Mr Noah of New >ork 
represented, a lew weeks aso. as desiring to sell himsell'into slaverv. val- 
uing his freedom at the moderate price of $150. And how is the condition 
of the emancipated slaves bettered in the British Islands ? or. n.ther. to 
what extent has English fanaticism injured those poor negroes, by takino- 
them from under the protection and guardianship of kind owners, and tui-^ 
ning them loose, to languish in idleness and vermine and crime?* There 
are but two instances exemplifying the condition of emancipated 
African slaves who are making the experiment of self-government. The 
one is the gloomy and blood stained Island of St. Domfngo, the historv of 
which, thus far, we think, shows that the curse of Almighty God against 
murder and rapine, added to the original curse of Canaan cleavino- tolhem. 
will ever Ibrbid its inhabitants to prosper, politically or religiously. The 
other is the colonies of emancipated slaves who are innocent of any guilt 
as to the means of their freedom ; some having, in the only true plan of 
emancipation, been freed by payment of a ransom to their owners; and 
others having received their freedom through the fanatacism of legisla- 
tures or individuals whose, owners, in either case, have been volun- 
tarily shorn or involuntarily rifled of property in their slaves, without 
any evil agency on the part of said slaves : None other, therefore, than 
the original curse of Canaan can be alleged as prohibiting the prosperity 
of the African colonies of Iree colored emancipated slaves. Although 1 have 
ever favored the colonizing of the free blacks, in Africa, as liktlv to be 
the means of introducing the principles ot Christianity and civilization 
among the natives of that beni^'hted country ; yet I have ever doubted 
whether the race would there even equal the condition of southern slavery 
as to the means o\' protection, religion and happiness. This opinion ha« 
been strengthened by reading the --Journal of an African Cruiser." written 
by a Northern man, and, of course, anti slavery, and predisposed to speak 
in favor of, rather than against the colonization enterprise. That your 
readers may judge for themselves. I give several quotations. He says, 
speaking of the women, "A little chance washing and sewing, not enough 
to employ one in ten. is all they have to depend upon. The consequence 
is. that every person of even moderate means of living has two or three 
women to ieed and clothe. — They do not need their services but cannot 
let them starve. This is one of the draw-backs upon colonization. Even 
ihe able bodied men are, generally, unfit for promoting the prosoerity of 
the colony. A very large proportion of tliem are slaves, just hberated. 
Accustomed to be ruled r.nd taken care of by others, they are no better 
than mere children, as respects the conduct and economy of life. In A- 
nierica, their food, clothes, medicines, and all other necessaries have been 
furnished without a thought on their part; and when sent to Liberia with 
high notions of freedom and exemption from labor (ideas which with raanj 
are synonimous) they prove totally inadequate to BUSt-din theraeelvc*. * • 
*See uote A, 



8 A DEFENCE OF SLAVER V, 

* * The thievish propensity of many of the poor anfl imlolent colonists 
is much complained olby tlie irulnstrioiis : on this account, more tlian anr 
other, It is (iilRcnlt to raife stock." ATrican Cruiser, chap, v., p. 24. 
Such was witnessed, several years asro. of l\lr. Clay's colony of emancipa- 
ted negroes in their best known condition of freedom. The description is 
so characteristic of Nejrro temperament, disposition and geidus, as resulting 
from the curse upon Canaan and his po.sterity ; and so congenial to the 
prophetic decree, fitting the race for slavery, that I can but apprehend 
that tliese items of discouragement to the friends of colonization, are but 
the beginning of their sorrows ; that they will find in the end that God's 
appointments cannot be frustrated by human inventions; and that con- 
trary t ) expectation, even the better class of the coloiusts will make but 
little advance, while the less moral and the improvident wdl descend to the 
condiiion ol'the natives, rather than elevate the latter. The author above 
qnoti'd. says, "Rude and wretched as is the condition of the natives, it has 
been atfirined that many ol'the Liberian colonists have mingled wtli them 
and prel'erred their savage mode of life to the habits of civilization. Only 
one instance of the kind has come to my personal knowledLre." Afiican 
Cruiser, c. vii. p. 59. As there are twenty nine verses in Air. Clay's ab- 
olition chapter, and 1 have not yet got through the second verse, it may be 
some relief to your type-men, as well as your readers, to know that it is 
not my purpose to act the regular commentator, or even touch upon every 
verse. 

This I shoui I not have time to do, not even if I expected that my reply, 
(as Mr. Clay did of his letter, from the orderl}' arrangement of it into chap- 
ter and verses) would he stereotyped, and bandied over New and Old En- 
gland. I must then be exi'used for dwelling a little longer upon the glar- 
ing sophisms of the second verse. Mr. Clivy thinks further, that " Ifsla- 
very be fraught with these alleged benefits, the principle on which it is 
maint.inied would require that one portion of the white race should be re- 
duced to bondage to serve another portion of the same race, where black 
aiuhjccts of slavery could not be obtained; and that in Africa where they 
m \y entertain as gr^at a preference tor their color as we do for ours they 
Avould be justified in reducing the whites to slavery in order to secure the 
blessings which that state is said to dilfuse." 

Are we here to understand Mr. Clay to be playing into the hands ofab- 
olitionism, by insinuating that the institution of slavery justifies the violent 
seizure of men. whether white or black entitled to freedom, and thus by 
force subjects them to a state of bondage? Does he place the rise of the in- 
.stitution of African slavery among us upon such footing ? Ifso, we call upon 
him to give the proof, till which is done, he must excuse us ibr considernig 
this absurd sophism a disingenuous thrust at the sacred rights of the South 
and an unhallowed misrepresentation of God's institutien. The whole of 
liis 3d and 4th verses are made up of the same sort of sophistical misrepre- 
sentation,suited well to please Northern fanatics. and strengthen their hands 
ill their mad disregard ol'the Bible and the American Constitution — in their 
threatened onslaught upon Southern rights and institutions 

As Mr. Clay has perhaps neglected to exann'ne the Bible plan of slave- 
ry, through his many engagements in electioneering for the Presidency, 
and in the duties of the high oliices of State which he has held, he will 
pardon us I'or showing him God's method of making slaves. If he will turn 
to chapter xlvii. of Genesis, he will see how a very large number of slaves 
was made without any violence whatever to their persons or their wills. 
The Etryptians through their improvidence and lack of foresight to take 
vire of the copious products of the eeven years of plenty, as did Jc'seph, were 



IN ANSWER TO MR. CLAY, 9 

forced by want lo pay out, first, all their rash for corn, and then ta self their 
I ands and themselves into servitude to Pharaoh ; amf they felt the sj)irit txf 
true graliluile lor having their lives preserved on the terms of heeoinirii'' 
slaves.— TlWs then ilhistrates Gods benevoii-nt in^.titution ol' slavery. It is 
intended to take under its protection and safe keeping the iniprovhlent ;ind 
reckless who may have tbrt'eited their title to lilierty thnniirh poverty, 
crime or the disasters of war. (See Leviticus xxv. o9&,47; Exodusxxi. 1-7; 
Joshua, ix. 23-27.) The curse inflicted on Canaan, (Gen. ix.2i 28.) lor tlw 
crime of Ins father was an exercise of divine mercy toward the I'atlier iit 
sparing him and punislung the son; and tiie | unishment was dispcnsedi 
in mercy to the son. in preserving him and his posterity iilive, with dinun- 
ished intellect, instead of cutting them oif ; and it is douhtless under such 
dimniution of intellectuality that the negro race in their native state, hava 
ever shown them.selves so improvident and incapacitated as to Ibrhid their 
rise from a condition of savnge barbarity, under their own manairement. 
The Bible, however, by no means justifies their tbrcilde ens! ivennMit by any 
enlightened or more powerful nation, nor do we recollect any particle of Im- 
tory showing such to be tiie manner in v.'hich our negroes were ensbived, 
as i\lr. Clay would be understood to insinuate in several parts of lii.s ch^^p- 
ter on emancipation. He speaks in the 5ll! and 25lh verses of tiie piteous 
'•wrongs" done to -'Africa" and '-her children,'' thrnuirn the institution of 
slavery. Whether this sophism is designed as a blistering unguent to bur 
applied to the conscienees of Southern slaveholders, to induce them to 
submit to be rifled of their j)roperty without n-sistence. or to l)e an election- 
eering salvo to enlist the morbid sympathies of Northern abolitionists. I shall 
not let 1 bound to decitle. But I shall like to be informed more speeifieally 
in ,what sense either the country or the inhabitants of Africa, or tiie no- 
g^roes brouglit Irom there, have ever been wronged by God's merciful in- 
stitution of slavery. Were thebeliigerent parties enoraLred in struggling 
warliire, wronged when this benign institnlion interposed to induce the 
conquerors to make slaves ol" their captives instead of bntcherinsr tiiem in 
the most cruel manner? And were those captives thus mercifully spared 
as slaves, wronged on being transported from a state of savage slavery 
xinder unfeeling tyrants in tiieir native land of sickness, ignorance and idol- 
atry, lo the protection and guardianship of kind, christianized and civil- 
ised masters, in a land of Bible liglit., ol' civil and gospel privileges, and 
of health and plenty? Has tiiis divine institution ol' God's appointment, 
done our Southern slaves wrong in placing them beneath tlie ])rotecting 
banner of the Constitution and laws of the most, civilized portion of tli« 
worlil ; and under the guardiiuisliij) ol owners, whose christian sympatiiy 
and personal interest combine to furnish tliem (parents and children) a 
comfortable home for life, and such supply of food, raiment and medical 
aid, as may be best calculated to secure healtli and protouL' lil'e I Uius ren- 
dering tiieir civil condition superior to that of any class of poor in any sec- 
tion ol tlie known world ? Has this heaven-born instilntion don" our slaves 
wrong in providing them ajiartments in every house of worslnp tiiroughout 
the Southern country, where tiiey may sit with their owners under tlin 
proclamation of gospel grace ; and tlirougli wiiich thousands of them arc 
enabled to rejoice in tiie glorious hope of a blessed immortality? 

tlave uur slaves, then, in fine. b(^en wronged in benig raised, througli 
the institution of slavery, to a condition of moral, intelleclnal and civil jm- 
provemeni, and to a state of proteciion. comfort and happiness never else- 
where, not in any period of the world's history, known to any portion of ihe 
negro race? W rongs done by the institution of slavery, indeed ! Mr. Clay 
had better contemplate the wrongs which the spirit of fanaticism has done 



t9 A DEFENCE OF SLAFERY, 

the poor negroes oftliis country in abusing God's institutjon mf slavery, by 
jiftemptiiiirjiiulfr morbid sensibility.loconlvr Ireedoni upoathem, vvbicli has 
doomed tlu- greui mass of emancipated slaves to wretchedness and want. 
He had beltei- look at, the crucitit-s which his phui medilates ag-ainst hie 
subjects of emancipation. Supporiii g those boni after 1861), aiid di'stined 
to be free at twenty-five, and to he sent to Allien at Evenly eiglit, marry, 
at the usual ages oi'thtir Ibrmiiig sucii connection — say the men at twenty 
and women at°ixteen \ ears; of age; then, at the expiration of eight years, 
the iiushaud must he torn fiom the wile, with from four to seven cliildren, 
and thus leave his faaiily to Ibliovv him, at long intervals, to tiie African 
colony. Alter four veais more, the mother js to he severed from herchihlrea 
aiid shipped to Alrica, there, piih.ips lu weep over tlie grave ol'her hus- 
band and to wait, if sj)ared by the inliospit..bie cltmate, lourteen years 
tot the arrival of her eldest child, and fifteen or si,\teen years, as the case 
may be. for tlie second, and in that proportion for tlie rest! But. alas, in the 
meanwhile, what security lor the saiety of her bereavid children would 
cheer her disconsolate reflections that, lione having a per.soiial interest in 
them, they would mo.st. likely sutler (or food, raiment and protection ! Mr. 
Clay says, sucli a stale of separation ''wjll be far less distressing than what 
frequently occurs in the state of slavery," &c. &c. We are inclined to the 
opinion ihatiuvoiuutaryseparationoffaniiJiesainong slaves seldom happens 
in their removaJ,or exchange of owners, as most people feel disposed to keep 
them together, where they desire it; and, in cases of separation, the par- 
ties are always assured that 'Jieir frieiuls or cinldren will fall under the 
care of matters whose personal interest will not allow their property ever 
to want the necessaries to preserve health and life. Mr. Clay I, ad better 
consider the ovitrthrow he is, perhaps unintentionally, devising against his 
free negro paradise ; Ibr, 1 am much mistaken if his annual shipment of 
live tiiousaud eiuancipated slaves from Kentucky, (should he succeed in 
blinding and deranging the people ol' that State so I'ar as to induce the 
act of manumission.) would not be the inevitable destruction of the African 
colony. Tne Ibreseeing author, before quoted, gives the irieiuls of colo- 
uizalion a timcJy hint on this jjoint. He says "i perceive in colonization 
reports that the owners of slaves Irequenlly olier to liberate them, on con- 
tliiio.iofjlieirbeiiigse.it to Li eria. * * * Better discriminate care- 
I'uliy in tlie selection of emigrants, than to send out such numbers of the 
least elij,ible class, to become burdens upon the industrious and intelligent, 
who might otiierwise enjoy comfort and independence. Mtuiy a colunist, 
at this moment, .sacrifices his interest to his humanity, and feels himself 
kept back in life by the urgent claims ol compassion." African Cruiser, 
ch. V p. 34. 

I had tiiought to pass to the 7th verse, containing Mr. Clay's emancipa- 
tion jiroposiiiun, and apply to it the Constitutional and Bible test of the 
right ol slave property ; but 1 must be excused for noticing yet a little 
lurther the sophistical attempt to cast sand in the eyes, and ihrow the 
chain of laiiatacism around the consciences of his slaveholding brethren 
of Kentui;ky. and the South in general, before he wouhl exhibit his bitter 
pill ol aliohiionism. Mr. Clay knew well that no man in his right senses 
would destroy ln« property, or relinquish his rii,'-hls for nought. Hence the 
labored elfurt to produce utter blindness to the rectitude of the institution 
of slavery. It is not only ridiculed anil sneered at, (the strongest argu- 
ments wiiich abolitionism has usuiilly produced,) but an appeal is 
made to public opiuiou, as certainly calculated to convince any sick- 
ened conscience that might still, through pecuniary interest, cleave to 
the detested jnstjtutiou of slavery. He says, "a vast majority of the 



IN ANSWER TO MR. CLAY. Ill 

people of the United States, 1 believe, regret— Inment— deplore"— &c. 
&.C. &c., concerning the hatei'iilness and evils ot slavery. IT there 
indeed be so vast a majority against slavery, Mr. Clay may, I sup- 
pose, think bis chance for holding a certain high otRce good, espiicially 
by this liaiidy annnnciation oTbis long entertained sentiments of abolition- 
ism. But. are majorities always right? If so, what is ihe use of Consti- 
tutions to prevent the minority from being wronged'.' Mr. Clavs asser- 
tion that the ab'jiition faction oi'this country are so vastly in the ascend- 
ency, must surely strengthen their hands; and as the cheeriiifr niessage 
his, ere this, connnenccd its perigrinations in old Enirland,the'inl'amous 
Sl.urge* of corn monopoly memory, Thompson, and others of like calibre, 
w 11 I'eel t at their mission and labors amongst abolitionists of New Eno-1 
land (for they dared not show their heads at the South ) were not in vain; 
and Lord Broughim, and other friends of the celebrated Clarkson. will 
certaiidy think it needless to attempt their promised answer t3 Gov. Ham- 
mond's litters, which involves the task of gnawing at a file. But when 
Mr. Clay slvall iiave answered tlie several interrogatories propounded to 
him in our comment on the 2iid verse ol his ci'apti-r, he will have found 
God, and Christ, and all holy men of old, sanctioning slavery as the most 
sublime institution of mercy, next to that of Redemption, and intended by 
God, as exemplified in the Bible, to be incor]ior:i<ed with every well or- 
gunizvd society. What then must be the fearlul prediciiment of Mr. Clay 
and his abolition friends both of old and New England ? Are they not all, 
whether few or many, fighhting against the God of heaven? Lifting their 
pany lists in opposition to Him who sits upon his lofty throne and laugha 
to scorn the impious attempts of his enemies to frustrate his designs or 
thwart his appointments? Leaving Mr. Clay and the trends ol abolition- 
ism to contemplate the fearful results of their unequal conflict, let the ad- 
vocates of slavery humbly rejoice in finding the God of the Bible with 
them, and that truth is mighty and must prevail. But it is time to redeem 
our promise to apply the test ot" truth to Mr. Clay's plan of abolition. 
After filling the preamble and six verses of his chapter with matter suited 
to the taste of free-soilers, and secondarily intended to blunt the sensibili- 
ties of ^southerners and blind them to the rectitude of their institutions. Mr. 
Clay comes out in the 7tli verse, with the preliminariLS oi'his long coiicoc- 
ed scheme of abolition. 

He l.iys down three prerequisites as being essential to the success of hia 
plan. The first is that emancipation must be gradual. He was conscious 
that the people would see the barefaced robbery in the case, il' their negrocB 
were taken from them at once. The second is that the emancipated slaves 
must be transported to some foreign colonj'. He knew that it would in- 
crease the liardships of the people of Kentucky to be rifled of their propei'- 
ty and then be molested forever with free negro depredations. The third 
pre-requisite is, that provision must be made lor the j)ayment, not to the 
owners lor their property, but to some agent to meet the outfit of tran«i- 
portation. &c, and this he thinks must arise from the hire of the Wtte negro : 
a.s he supposed that it would surely be considered unlair lor the plundered 
master to meet such expense. All this reminds one ol' the devision of prey 
made by the white man between himself and his Indian companion, in 
their hunting expedition, where the Indian complained that the other had 
not said turkey 13 him, but had assigned him the crow in every form of 

*He and his brother just before his niis>ion to this couuiiy, bought up all the 
corn in tii.it sc-tion of tngiand and mude a fortune by extorliiig upon the s/mving 
poor of that country. Sco Thornton, pp. '^11, 219. 



12 A DEFENCE OF SLAVERY, 

lu's proposition The Kentiirkiaii... iuul the south in general, mnv truW 
cou.p.an. that Mr. Clay's he.un-oh.nt .rhemc has macio no provision to pav 
Th.m lur ihoir nrgroc.s. AV hen the J5riish fanatics emancipated the Haves 
ol (he West India Islands, they aj)propnated an amount, supposed to he -i 

air ran.^on, price lor each slave, an.l I heheve provided an armed Torce 
tor the protection ol tJie whites anioiiir whom they turned loose the ne^roe' 

ihey wen-, not quite so lar irone in fanaticism as to have lost all sense of 
honesty and jusiice. Dot Mr. Clay in the true spirit of yankee abolition- 
ism, proposes to plunder, by public authority, the owners, of their monev 

vested 111 their slaves : and indeed, how else could emancipation be eOected? 
unless Mr. Clay could persuade (which would be hard to do) the Nor- 
thern abolilioiiusts to become impoverished by exemnlifviucr the truth of 
their sympath) in purchasincr southern slaves ? For the raising bv tix 
Mtion, Irum the property holders of Kentuclvy, SOadllionsol doll.^rs io nav 
themselves lor their slaves, would involve an absurdity as indicative of 
maduess, as their submission to emancipation without equivalent would 
be evincive ol their blinu lanaticism. But Mr. Clay would make the peo- 
ple be leve that the gradual process in the operation of plunderin-^ will 
make the snmil sacnhce on the part of the slaveliolders. altoo-fther (^isv to 
be borne.-Lut vyhat is the dilierence in my beinir robbed by peace-meals 
with the knowledge that the whole is to be swept at V e thief'.s conveni- 
ence or in his takmo. .t the first pass, my all ? The feelin^.s must in the first 
c.ise be subjected to the greater detrree of sulfering because doomed to the 

ongerendurance ol testeringand rankling mortification. The ultimate ques- 
tion in t. IS case is, will the people of Kentucky, or any of the States sub- 
nn to be ruled ol their property by law ? We think not until the Consti- 
talum o the Luionand the Bible be cast of! or treated as dead letter.. 
1,1 the Jth section ol the first article, and in the 2nd section of the fourth 
urticle, tne constitution ol the United States recognizes the vested ri^ht 
ol ine. o.vaer, in slave property ; which it guaranties against any legisla- 
tion of the ri^.tional legislature: and the second section of the first article 
ioiuius any fetate to pass a law impairing contracts, which must include 
destroying vested rights. What court, then, under the supervision of the 
umencan constitution would not declare any law null, which should essay 
to divest me ol my .slave property without my consent ? If the Slave- 

luhierd ol any ol the states under their manumis,.ion Acts.have been divec- 
tcu ol their slave property, it has been because they were ffulh-d by fanafa- 
o.is.;n or igiioranco to yield their rights to the robberv of unncrbteons legis- 
lation. Jamaware ilis held thata State, in its soverei<rn capacity by c°oii- 
veniional authority, can act above its Constitution. We ask if such Stata 
be rendered unat.c through fanaticism, and declare God's constitution of 
Inings null, li the action must be considered right? But the slaveholder 
h.is ins property in his slaves recognized and guarantied to him bv a still 
i.i-her power than the Constitutions of this country. The Bible* God's 
<oiist,itutional guide tor Iiim-self in the government of our race and for the 
3-eguiationol human responsibilities in regard to the relations of man with 
1 is hdlovv or Ills Maker, recognizes the slaveholder's peivonal and vested 
nght.s in his slave which he has purchased with his monev or received as 
|.n inheritance. And vyoe betide that robber or band of robbers, whether 
«ndt tin- lormai.t.y olaw or not, who will wrest from me my slaves ami 
risk the dec.ssions ol God's tribunal in that day when the world shall be 
jUd<red in righteousness. 

Mr Editor: Having fulfilled my pledge to aiiply the promised test I was 
»t.out to desi.st and consign the loregoing to youV disposal.- But my pen 
^rnig of the precious metal, has a powerfurattraction for truth, and an 

-ih: Jiible in i:3 literal import and not according to Mr. Seward's interp elation. 



IN ANSWER TO MR. CLAY. T3 

equal principle of repulsion against error, and a-; Mr. Clay is a man of 
acknowledged influence in tiu; nation it maybe that my pen thinks his er- 
rors the more danirerons. Your typemen and readers mnst indnlore it« 
itching propensity to operate Inrther upon Mr Clay's sophisms. He in his 
lotii verse, thinks that ihe rights of slavelioliiers should remain unmolest- 
ed^lVora the nianun)ission act of the present year till the distant period fixed 
for the commencement of freedom, and th;it owners of slaves he allowed 
'•to sell, devise or remove them from the State." This demagogue turn 
in tlie arrangement is intended to induce the slaveholders to join with th« 
fanatics and free snilers to pass the act of emancipation, on the ground 
that they will have the privilege of running all the slaves over into our 
States, and pocketing the money for them, and thus remain unscathed aa 
to their pecuniary interests. But let me say to the people ol K<'ntncky, 
that we liave learned a lesson of expei'ience (the most costly sort of lessons) 
on thai pomt from the practice of our Vankee friends; tuid I would warn 
the Kentuckians to he guarded against this delusive sophism — for just as 
soon as the State of Kentucky shows her hand against the South, we. in 
self defence, must inuuediatelv enact measures prohihitory of the imigra- 
tion ot Kentucky slaves among us, and if they wdl be wise in view of tlieir 
own interests, let them ui.furl, in time tiieir banner ot opposition to Mr. 
Clay's predatory measure of abolitionism. 

As a Ibrther appeal to the interest ot"the slave holders, he tells them of 
the evils already experienced. an;l of those which are to com'\ from tlieir 
abolition neighbors. The people of Ohio have given them I'reat trouble, 
in causing the escape of slaves beyond the intervening river; and. Irom 
the increase of ihe spirit of aboiitinnism. they must expect the people of 
other Slates to do so too. That is. if n parcel of thieves take a p irt of my 
property. I must tl row the balance away, to prevent them and others from 
gellingit ! A curious sopiiism truly. But do not Mr Clay's troubles iadi- 
cate a bad state of morals resulting Vrom abolitionism ? What has become 
of the Constitution, which exprcs-sFy provides lortiie recovering of fugitive 
or stollen slaves? Ah !— and what has become of the Bible, whose code of 
kiwa, whit h God inscribed with his own haml on tables of stone to show 
their permanent authority, says, '-Thou shall not steal? Thou shall not, 
covet thy neighi)or's lionse, thou shall not covet thy neiijhbors wife, nor hie 
man servant, nor his maid servant, nor his ox nor his ass, nor anything that 
is tiiy neijhbor's." Does Mr. Clay suppose that, if these sacred precepts, 
which stand prominent in the code of God's morals, and wliich are to con- 
etituie the test of character upon which the fearful awards of the eternal^ 
judgment will be distributed, were correctly understood by the people of 
Ohio, that they would, in the face of such divine authority, interfere with 
the man servants and maid servants of their neighbors ? Not they. Does 
Mr. Clay think thai, if the ignorant slaves were correctly taught the sane- 
tions )f the Bible on the duties of man servant.? and maid servants, they 
woulil even sutler themselves to be stolen ? The Bible teaches slaves that 
they have no more right to escape from the possession and service ol the 
matter, than they have to steal iheir value in money; and that to covet Iree- 
dom, without the master's being paid his money invested in them, is a fla- 
grant breach of the 8lh and 10th commandments— and that God holds all 
lugitive slaves in the character ot thieves and robbers who must rest be- 
neath his curse in life, and be driven into endless torments under the de- 
cisions of the judgment of the great day. unless tl ey obtain forgiveness^ 
irom God, which they cannot do without their repenti-nce and forsaking of 
sin, which includes their return to their master and restitution for his loss 
in their escape. See the Epistle of Paul to Philemon, describing the case 



U A DEFENCE OF SLAVERY, 

ofOiiPsenuis. See some of the leading scriptures in referenre to servant* 
— Gei!. xvii. 12. 13; Ezodiis jcx. 10, 17. The incorponition of sl;» very into 
the covenant of cin-iiincisiou and into tiie decalogue, siiows the in.stitu- 
tion to be of paranioimt authority and perpetnity in the Jmvish economy ; 
and tlie New Testa iient jt-gislation for its continnanee to the end of time, 
■hows tlie nature of the, (h'vine sanction under wiiich the submi.^sion and obe- 
«iience ol"shivus i.ste(|iiired iti tlie gospel eronorny. See Eph.vi.5 10 Coll. 
iii. 22, 25. Let llie 25th verse be impressed on the slave's conscience witli 
the sanctions under wliich God's law was given from Sinai. (Exodus xix. 
unit II Cor. V. 10. 11.) and if they can be made to believe what God there 
says, my word for it they will not be persuaded to run away from their 
masters. See. also. 1 Peter ii. 18.20; Titus ii.9. 10. See a reproof orabe- 
iitionists. I Timotliy vi. 1,6. See proof that God intends slavery, and ne- 
gro .slavery especially, to exist from Noah to the Day of Jndgment — Gen.. 
ix.2-i. 2S; Rev. vi. 15, 17. Now, if inculcations oi" Bilile trutli properly 
placed before the people would n-nder the slave conscientiously t'iiithfult 
und obedient, would ii not! pat to sjlence abolitionism e'<en in Ohio; anclt 
at once remove all .Mr. Clay's melanciioly ferbodmgs of llie breach of the- 
Union, and the sad ravages of civil war. waged on account i>f sl.ivery, as- 
portrayed so. fnglittully in his2lst verse? Thoe bugbears woald all. 
vanish before ihe sianilard of G.d's truth, unfurled to the compehension. 
of the people of all cl.ts.ses. Would it not be more in acconlance wifJi the 
princiiple of true philanthropy for Mr. Clay to wield I is infliienee on the 
side of the Bible, and thus to stay the march of liuiataci.sni, and. prevent 
the doleful results which he anticipates, rather than attempt thus to Iright- 
en ti.e .'slaveholdiei.s of Kentucky ifito his measure, and drive' I^hem to throw 
away their rigiit.-^, and then join with the North in the conxnon persecu- 
tion against the South ? Besides in the event of the su])posed civil war, 
what would Kentuj^ky be benefitted; by an abandonment of the South, and 
forming a union with the North ? Would she not still be "the border State" 
upon which the whole of the Yankee troops wouJd be quartered? How, 
then, would she avoid 'bearing the brunt of war" still? Why not, then, 
let Kentucky remain with her Southern sisters, havi .g certiiinly an ad-- 
vantage Iroiu the great natural bai-ier of the Oliio river between them and 
the enemy ? Ah I if the slaveholders of Kentucky should not perceive ths- 
force of this sophism of Mr. Clay, the free-soil voters for P'resident. in 1852, 
will develope to them the secret of it. Viewing th'- whole aspect of thie 
•sophism, intended to scare the people of Kentucky to set their negroes free 
and join the North, without bettering their condition in.case ofiivil war, 
reminds us of an anecdote, heard while traveling near file Statf line of 
North and South Carolina, shortly after the Commissioners of the two 
States ran the line. It was said that an old woman, who. had raised her 
family, as she supposed, in South Carolina, on the line passing a few 
paces to the south o( her residence, was- greatly rejoir-ed on being ••taken," 
as she said, "out of the sickly state of South Carolina.'^ 

Mr. Clay's so{)hism in the next verse, intjended as a salvo to refain our 
friendship while it lisl-.es tor Northern popul.iiity. is not much less deserving 
of ridicule. He says in verse 22d :: " If she (Kentucky) shoul. I abolishi 
slavery, it would be her duty, and I trust that she will be rea<ly as she now 
isi. to defend the slave States in the enjoyment of all their lawful and consti- 
tutional rights; and her power would pohtically and physically be greatly 
increased ; lor the one hundred and ninety odd tliousandslavesand descend- 
ants would be gradually superceded by an equal number of white inhabi- 
tantu who would be csiimated per capita, and not by the federal rule of 
three-fifths proscribed lor the colored race in the Constitution of the 



IN ANSWER TO MR. CLAY. 15 

United Sfoles." Now upon Mr. Clay's eliowiiig, would he feel the inter- 
ests of Kentucky to he safer in ihe hands of the citizens of Ohio, tlian in 
those of any neighboring slave State? Ah! but the Kenlnckiaris after 
joining the North, are still to cleave like sticking plasters, to tiie South. — 
But upon what other assurance besides Mr. Clay's ipse sperubit. can 
we expect the friendship of Kentucky in any tlegree. much less in the 
strength of its present personal interest, should it he her policy to secure Jhe 
friendship of Ohio by lorsaking us? We have read a I'ahSe'ofan nnlucky 
fox whiih iiad lost his tail in a steel trap, and at once could not resi con- 
tented without seeking to induce among otiiers, ihe loss of tails as the 
common fashion. We know too. that it is a principle, pecnliar to falh-n hu- 
man nature, for thos who get into an error, to let- 1 tiie rising of prejudice 
against itiose wlio are in the ri|rht. And the array of the whole abolitiois 
faction <'f Ohio against Kentucky, and Mr. Clay's apprehension that the 
increase ol the spirit, will soon set the yet honest peoptt- of Indiana and Il- 
linois in l!ie same altitude, tells an ugly story upon ab*ilitioiiiL*in.as tending- 
to corrupt the honesty and good morals of all v/ho yield to its innuence. 
Then docs not Mr. Clay's own shewing upon ihe subject, warn us to> 
expect that if Kentucky suffer herselt'to become fanaticised witli the fou.'.i, 
spirit ol' abolitionism, we may write Ichabml upon her frieiuisliip lor the 
South? 

But why does Mr. Clay thus expect such a speedy irtcrease of tli« oppo-- 
iition to slavery, as to render the abduction of slaves into Indiana and. 
Illinois, as easy aa thit under which the people of Ohio now practice that 
sort of plundering? Does he suppose that his- avowed sentiments of 
abolitionism, and the sophistical reasons as.signe(l, connected wlh hie 
weight ol oh racter. must necessarily convince the honest pieople of Indianii 
and Illinoia.- that they will be doing God service in stealing slaves ; because 
the great Mr. Clay thinks Alrican Slavery a violation of human rights, 
and an enormous sin a4-ain>t God, as taaglit in Mr. Wayland's book of 
morals ? if Mr. Cla\ 's influence, thus-Ehrown into the scale of abolitionism, 
should add so much to the erroneous teaching of the books of Drs. Way- 
land and Channing, which hitherto have faileil to d-o away the Bible in- 
•tructions on the subject in Indiana and Illinois, we again submit to Mr. 
Clay, to co;isid< r vviiat might have been the amount of good he could have 
effected by, the employment of hiseloquence and authorativt- opinion in ad- 
vocacy ol the Bible, and the cause of truth, in connexion with tlie institution, 
of slavery. Had Mr. Clay expounded tlie principle under which God in- 
corporated .slavery into the decalogue, as constituting a leading ingredient, 
in the divine law. and that even to covet the slave, or feel a strong desire tO' 
divest the master of his right of property, in his man servant or maid serv- 
ant, would be recognized by the God of Heaven as a lelonious crime, lor. 
which, such otiender would have to render a fearful reckoning, umler the: 
tremendous awards of retributive justice in the great day of divine ven>- 
geanoe; the peopleof Indiana and Illiiioiswould have been confirmed in their 
honesty; and the peojile ol Ohio, it may be, would have been convinced of 
their error, and w,ould tremble at the idea of rushing upon Jehovah's buclilen- 
in any attempt at intermeddling wath the duties of slaves or the rights o^ 
alaveholders. 

We wish it to be distinctly understood thatit is not the object of these 
strictures, to set forth the sentiment that Kentucky, or any of the slave ■ 
States, have not the right, under any circumstances, to emancipate her 
■laves, when feeling it to be the personal interest of the citizens to do so,, 
from the fact of slaves and slave labor, having become valueless. But w« 
iay thatupon Mr. Clay's showing, such is very lar from being the fact: 



16 A DEFENCE OF SLAVERY, 

in the present case ; when the slaves are valued at from $700 to $1000. 
For Mr. Clay fsliiniitcs the average liire of both sexes, at $50 per an- 
ncin, an inlercsL upon a capital ol' more than $700, and if the rxpinse of 
hoard aaJ flol,hin<j he added to the cost ot hire, it would show an interest 
orrnucli J, irger capita!. And it is presuniahle, that the liire ofjonng, 
able bodied lidlovvs, at this time, wouhi exhibit tlie interest of more than 
$1(!00 lapital! Shivery tlien, cannot be burdensome, as yet. in the State 
of Kentucky; and the amount of perhaps more than one hnndred millions 
f>l"dolhirs, would be no inconsiderable sum to be fildied bv the purloinini; 
liand ol fanaticir-iii, from the slyveholders of KentuoUy ! It is then beyond, 
dispute, that the persona] interest ol the slaveholder, does not in Kentucky, 
call fur any arrangement to rid the State of the institution of sin very. 

But liien. the land is to hi; so enhanced in value, as to more tiian make 
amends I'or any triHmg loss sustained in emancipating slaves. Says Mr. 
Clay: " The slaveiiulder is general y a landliolder, and I am persuaded 
th.it he would find in 'he auomented productiveness of his lands, some, if 
not lull indemnity ibr the losses arising to him from emancipation and 
colonization. ' Now, lands in S julh Carolina and Georgia, and I believe 
most ot the Atlantic States, when turned out, soon prove very productive, 
in the young growth of pine, persimmon, or sassafras; and what the 
Kentucky larms would produce, better, without cultivation, I know not. 

That soit of "augmented productiveness" could net gn^atly enhance the 
value of the capital invested in the slaveholders' land. The land, then, now 
cultivated by one hundred thousand slaves, must be brought into market, 
or lie arf dead capital, in the possession of those deprived ol their laborers 
through tlie act of manumission. The over-supply of land must, in the 
nature of the case, cause great depreciation in the price, and subject the 
slaveholder, ivliose slaves had been taken from him for nought, to sustain 
a furiiier icssoffrom a third toa half of the present worth of his land. A 
farm and residence in Jamaica formerly worth $50,000, sold lately for $3000! 
But then, the slave population is to be superceded by white laborers, and 
capitalists are to be attracted. No doubt the very low prices of the best 
Kentucky land, would attract speculators, and in process of time the vaca- 
ted lands would be re-occupied. But wiiat of all this, to the present owners 
or their children, who are scathed and fleeced by the ravaging hand of 
abolitionism, and turned over to the mercy of poverty, to be huilett'd 
alresii by her iron fi.<t. There is something too extremely specious in this 
wliole attempt to blind the slave and land holders of the Sontli to the Io.-k 
of tlieir property — wiiich they must inevitably see, to some extent, if not 
deluded by a strange hallucination in regard to the results of negro 
emancipation. The mystification thrown over the subject would seem 
likely to nlind any incautious nian. especially the political friend of Mr. 
Clay, to the perceptiofi of his real interest, and to beget in his mind an 
utter distrust for the salety and sacredness of Southern institutions. Mr. 
Clay admits that some little sacrifices must be regretted in the arrange- 
ment. '"But"' says he, ''these sacrifices are eistant, contingent and incon- 
siderable. Assuming the year 1800 for the commencement of the, system, 
all slaves born prior to that time would remain such during their lives, and. 
the personal loss of the slavehoiiler would be the difierence in value ol a 
female slave whose offspring, if lie had any born after the first day of 
January, 18G0. sliould be free at the age of twenty-five, or slaves for life.'' 
Again, he says' ' The slaveholder, after the commencement of the system, 
would lose the dilTerence between the value of slaves for life and slaves 
till the age of twenty-five." As to expense of raising the children of free 
birth, he thinks they would most likely be apprenticed to the former owner 



IN ANSWER TO MR. CLAY. 17 

ofthe mothers, nnd their labor, till their majority, would pretty miirh com- 
pensate lor trouhle in tlieir case. I once heard the must successlul planter 
I ever knew, say he coiisjijered it more exp^^nsive to raise negroes than to 
buy them. He alhidej to the loss ot'tiuie and expense with tronblesomc 
mothers tnore than feeding children. On Mr. Clay's hypothesis, that was 
a tremendions mistake, ifliis given datii for the averv.igi^ value ofslavcs 
may be relied npon, showing them wortli from ^700 to $1.000. — So plau- 
sible is Mr. Clay's abolition scheai.-.. ih.it. i.'it may not close the eyes ot' 
many a Southern sl.iveholder to his personal iaierests, luiJ to the right- 
eons it'ss ot" S ) itliera institatio is it will snrr;ly open the eyes of Northern 
aboliiinnists wider th in ever with inexpressible istonishment that Ken- 
tucky, and all the Suathern States, en manse, do not seize, with avidity, 
upon this glorious pl.in d'ViS' d m almost inhnite wisdom, to get Iheir hands 
washed rniin iniLpiity, without loss in the eniancipatioa otslaves! But, 
as a Souihern man, whose only inheritance lor my children is in the in- 
vestment ot" slaves and the land they culrivate. aiui whoso sympathies by 
birth and education are with the South. 1 must be excused for marring 
this joy of abolitioaists. which Mr. Clay's benevolent scheme ha.< so ex- 
tatically excited. I must be allowed to blow out ofthe eyes of my neigh- 
bors, at least, a little of his fog and s.ind, in wiiich Mr. Clay has so blan- 
dishiiigly enveloped them. My Vankee Irieiids mu.st pardon me, too. lor 
using their own method of operation, when altendiag to their own inter- 
ests, viz: just to cipher a little in the child's arithmetic. We will, then, 
proceed to use the figures which Mr. Cl.iy has specifu'd in his plan oT 
showing the •inconsiderahle" ''sacrifices" of the slav(diol('er. in "emanci- 
pation and coloniz itioii." He estimates the number ofslavcs at over one 
iiundred and ninety thousand, and tin ir annual increase at five thousand. 
Assiiining 1860 !br the commencemrnt of manumission, and 28 years for 
the first shipment. e;ives 39 years — the iaerease being in ihai proportion, 
(and he thi.iks it nii_''iit. to the first shipment, be more,) the wlioli; number 
of nei.'ro -s in Kenturky up to that ti.ne will be had hy 39 multi|)lii'(l by 
5000. equal to 19%000, added 195,000, the present number, gives 390,000, 
which, without the emancipation act, would, then be slaves in Kentucky 
in 1888. If twice the term of 39 years be supposed sufHcienj to eli'ect the 
utter riddance of slavery, and we suppose, as before, that slavery were to 
remain uninterrupled. and only increase at thi^ former r,\U',, the nun ber 
wovild then be. in 1927.780,000, which multiplied by $300, the price of each, 
equals S:i34 000 000, (the round sum of two hundred and thirty-lbnr mill- 
ions of dollars !) to wni -h add Mr. Clay's aiianal a veraixe hire for half the 
iium;;er, which may be considered capaide of service, and you would have 
in tlie neighborhood of what the heirs ofthe present slaveholders of Ken- 
tucky would have been swindled out of .-y the I'ldonious clutches of aboli- 
tiomisin. An accurate financial estimate would not be necessary to my 
jiresient purpose, as I j)roposed only to remove a little ofthe dust which 
might Itedim the eyes of those who may have reail Mr. Clay's system ot 
emancipation, if we count the liir-e ol liall'the negroes, and for half the 
time, with interest, it would mount up to about seven huiidred inillions, and 
adiled to the value of negroes, as above stated, it would swell the sum oi 
loss in the emancipated negroes to fen huiulred and thirty-four millions! 
— and perhaps loss through depreciation in value ef land, and interest 
upon that up to 1927, would raise the loss sustained by the heirs of slave- 
holders to $ll00,00l',000or S1£00,000,0U0 (eleven hundred to twelve hun- 
dred millions) at least 1 ! ! — bestowed on "freedom flung away." as said a 
qegro concerning a vagabond white man who passed him while at work. 
IJutj says the abolitionist 'what insinuation is this? U it intended to in' 



li" A DEFENCE OF SLAVERY, 

timato that the conHition of emancipated and colonizcrl slaves would not 
be bettered V It is true, Mr. Clay rt-presents such roioiiization as const. - 
tutini? a Neirro paradise in Alric^a and a Caucasian elysium in Keiitucky. 
Says he, '-We shall enjoy the proud and cons(;ious satisfaction of placing 
that race wliere they can enjoy the threat hirssing of lil>frty. and civil, po- 
litical and social equality.' We are instructed by the African Cruiser 
as before quoted that the most of tliose already colonized make the 
idea of freedom synonymous with exemption from labor; that a 
lar>re proportion were preying upon the lew who were disposed to 
ext'rt beconiiiii^ industry and economy, while, it was alBrmed, that many 
had united with the savage and idolatrous natives. Can Mr. Clay 
flatter himself that tlie Kentucky negroes would act a better pan, sent, as 
liiev would be, in indiscriminate annual cargoes ol fivi- thousand at a time? 
From tiie testimony before us. we would no! be surprised that, when the 
slnpment of the last re,mnant from Kentucky might be landed on the bor- 
ders of the painted negro paradi-^e, they would find it a dreary waste, 
plundered and robbed by the majority, who would have become amalga- 
mated with the heathenish natives, and would be worshijtping snakes and 
alligators! That would be liberty with a vengeance. But. su[)posing 
tiiis (o be a mistake, however gootl tiie authority for the calculation, and 
that ihey should prove to be industrous and moral, to whom would they bo 
equal, civilly, politically and socially? — Why. ilihey should not descend to 
equality with the savage natives, tiiey could but be equal to one another in 
these respects — and what would they be bettered from their present condi- 
tion? For, they are now equal to one anoliier. • politically, civilly and social- 
ly," and have the examples and influences of tiie whiles, under whose pro- 
tection and guidance their standing and moral character would contin je t» 
improve, as it ever has done ; and. certainly they could not possibly enjoy 
a hii^her degree of safety and religious privilege on the exposed an iiihoe- 
pitaltle shores of Ai'rica, where a large propo.tion would fall victims to the 
climate, ihanthey are destined toenjoy under the guardianship ofkind own- 
ers in the State of Kentucky, where God in his merciful providence, has 
cast their lot beneath the banner of Gospel grace, and in the lap oi' health 
and plenty. Moroever. the indications of the Divine Providence, seen in 
the unexampled prosperity of the negro race among us — in their increase, 
and mental and moral elevation — bespeak their condition of slavery as 
fuililling his purposes concerning them, in more direct accordance to the 
pro[)hetic decree of God, than they could possibly exhibit in a self-governed 
colony. We have elsewhere expressed the hope, which we still entertain, 
that a colony of a careful selection ol the more industrious, moral and in- 
telligent Wfe negroes of this country, upon any healthy location in Africa — 
watched over by ihe friends of colonization, ^ nd instructed by missionaries 
sent from this country, faithful and true ; may hold on to their civdization 
and religion, and may become instrumental in extending civilization and 
Christianity among tlie idolatrous natives. But. my word lor it. crowding 
upon such colonies indiscriminate shipments of the subjects ol' State rnao- 
umission wouhl upset the colonization enterprise. 

Now. we will look at Mr. Clc\'s Kentucky elysium, to be produced by 
'•the extinction of slavery" in that State. On describing the benefits which 
he says will accrue to the whites from the abrogation of slavery and removal 
of the negroes to Africa, he aflirms : — -'We shall remove Irom among us 
the contaminating influences of a servile and degraded race, of a ditferent. 
color." Here you perceive that Mr. Clay's attack upon slavery in Ken- 
tucky drives a dagger "'under the flith rib" of God's institution every- 
where, and can but be viewed by every Southern man. whose eyes are 



IN ANSWER TO MR. CLAY. 19« 

hnlfopen, asa fatal thrust at the dearest interests cf the South. It is cer- 
tainly striking at the vitaUty and very t'oundatiun of slavery to represent 
it, per se, and in its organic nature, a source of corruption to society where 
it exists: For, if such were the I'act, every friend to pure morals ought to 
desire freedom froui such influrnces. But. that slavery, and especially 
negro slavery, is not in itsell"snsci'ptihle of such influences, must be infer- 
red iVorii God's appointment of the same kind of slavery among his cho.>sen 
people. Mr. Clay'.-< charge upon the institution of slavery i.s. in truth, an 
impreachment of the wisdom oftiie Diety in the appointment of the insti- 
tution ! And, what is the testimony of history as to the eli'ects of slavery 
upon those nations with whose social compacts it has beeu incorporated. 
Sacred history presents no nation since the crcMtion. among the ancients, 
as exhibiting a standard of purer morals than the Jewish na'ion, and. in 
the aimals of profane history, no ancient conmiumties of the heathen 
world have surpased tiie Greeks and Romans in their civd polity and na- 
tional greatness. I suppose no oboiitioiiist would risk incurrinsr the odium 
of opt-n infidelity by denying that the New Testament presents the code 
of purest morals known to the world, and records the history oftiie purest 
examples of human greatness, in the character of Jesus Christ and his in- 
spired Apostles and the early converts to Christianty among God's chosen 
people, the Jews, and among the Greeks and Romans. Yvi these divine 
oracles of the Gospel era recognized the righteousness of the institution of 
slavery, as handed down tiirouirh the divine ajjpointmenls of the Jewish 
polity and through the civil codes of Greece and Rome. They make pro- 
vision for its continuance to the end ot time, and in the persons and char- 
acters of the sacred writers and their pious comrades, as reared in the bo- 
som of slavery, testily to the falsity of the charge that slavery, per se. is 
a source of corruption to society. If then, the moral condition of Kentucky 
is more corrupt than tliat of the neighboring so colUd. free States, it can- 
not be attributable to the iustitution of slavery : and we suppose tiiat nei- 
ther iVIr. Clay nor his iVieads will seek to put the Bible in tiie wrong and 
themselves in the right by contending for the truth of the proposition that 
slavery is corrup.,ing in its tendencies, as exemplified in the immorality of 
the ))eople of Kentucky. But. is it not a libelous charge upon the Ken- 
tuckiaiis to allege their state of morals to be worse than that of their West- 
ern and Northern hirelinir neighbors ? They are well able to defend their 
own (Muse, doubtless; but they must excuse my seeming o.lficiousiiess in 
interferiiiiif in their behalf, when they will perceive that 1 am lending off 
the insidious lance hurled at us in common. We ask, then, where is the 
evidence that the hiirhminded, generous-hearted, courageous, honest and 
industrious citizens of Kentucky have become contaminated by the exis- 
tence of God's institution of slavery among thein '? Compare them, for 
instance, with the people of Oiiio, where slavery has never existed. Upon 
Mr. Clays's shewing, the intervention of the Ohio river is insutficient to 
secure the property ol Kentucky airainst the dishonest depn-dations of the 
citizens of Ohio. In direct iufraction of the United States' Constitution, 
and in the face of the wrathlul foihiding of the Stii and lOtli of God's 
e.ommandmeuts — the code of morals forming tnc criteria of character upon 
Avhich the decissions of the soul's destiny in eternity is to be awarded — 
tJie people of Ohio give encouragement to the escape ol' slaves from their 
owners, by secreting them from the master's search and poss ssion. Says 
Mr. Clay, "Vast numbers of slaves have fled from the most of the coun- 
ties in Kentucky, from the mouth ot'the Big Sandy to the mouth of Mia- 
mi, and the evil has increased and is increasino:. Atti mpls to recover the 
fitgitives lead to most painfully irritating collisions. HitherlOj countenancti 



2^« A DEFENCE OF SLAVERY 

and assistnnre fo rl.e fii.'itiv'Ps h;iv.^ heon rhicfly afforded hy persons in Wq 
fctatu ot Uliio,- &(•.. riie Lord have in(^rcy upoi, such a state of morals 
a^ Mr. Cl-iy shows lo exist in Oliio. The people of Kentudtv would do 
well to employ n)is;>ionarits to '■xpoi)n(f »o the people of Ohfo the Ten 
Coiiim uuliDent.s. the ijeiiei-al iiirul(!alii)iis and sanctions of the Bible and 
t'e iaevitalde certaiiitv 'hat all tliicves and fohbers mnst -.ppeHr hefore 
the jnilo:nientseat of Christ. It is foi- want of Bihle iiisirnctfon t| ;u tiie 
ru\>\U: opinion in Ohio jrives countenance to the dishonest condoet of 
winch Mr. Clay so moun.fu'iy eompi lias. But. just contrast with the 
state of Ihinixs in Ohio tin' honesty of Ki'ntuc.kian>\ K twice the number 
of mules hadi-rossi-d the Ohio rivi-r into lventu(-lvv. I lliink I can vouch for 
it that tiie owners would liave found but little difficulty m gt-ttinir every 
mule. F r -he honest and irenerous sons of Kentucky would have not 
oidy lelt impelled under Bii>le sanctions, bu* upon principles of courtesy, 
to advetide the runaway niu'es. and ^rive the owners as lilile trouble as 
possible in rocoveri o; the f.^giiives ; and yet the Bible makes the coveting 
ol slaves a higher crime than tliatof an ass or ox— because tiie man servarit 
and I aid servant is mentioned first, and because coiitaiainija much lar<'er 
iiiv-stment of n'o'iey. T e laws of God and man (as siuvv,, n\ the Bible 
ttnd in the provitjions ol"the Constitution) make concealment or stealino- of 
slaves more I'loaious than that ol any species ol properly of less value — 
because the fr-iouy is proporlioned to the amount stolen and injury done to 
society. Loo at 'he ."State of Kentucky, compared with Ohio or any of 
the liirelinij States, as to the t.reneral spirit of obe.liv.-nce to law ami 
gjod order. How many cases of siriking for wages and various out- 
breaks ol a r'otous character have ha led from states wiiere, according to 
Mr. Clay's noti(uis, a paradise should be expected. Su< h were the fearful 
tjireaten ngs oi'tiie spirit of mobocracy in Philadelphia, a few years sincCj 
tliat the military power could witii dilR -ulty restore order, an<l 1 suppose 
it is the sale kind o- spirit which in Oli o has produced -'the most painful 
and irritati >g collisions" to which Air. Clay refers on the subject of keep- 
ing slave property lioai the right owners. VV^ho has ever heard of sucli 
a state ol things in slaveholding communities — wiih now and then a mere 
little exception, as, for instance, 1 did hear tiiat Cassias .VL ' lay's aboli- 
tion press was set afloat in the Ohio river; and. il'the KenlucUi.ins never 
do any thing worse, f. lor one will eX' use them: f<jr. if any work of the 
devil would justify the infliction of summary punishmi-nt by the protectors 
ot lemale virtue and sacred homes, it is the establishment ol' an abohtion 
pre.«s in the midst of the firesiiles of any slaveholding community. So far, 
then, from Kentucky's presenting a condilion ol' m rals inferior to that of 
ner non-slavel'oltliiitr neighbors, it would, no doubt, be ascertained, by 
strict invesiigation. that her superior s'an.ling in morals, in coiiniion with 
ti.e South over the Noitli. coincides with the Bible histo-y ofslav ry in 
testilying to the righeousness ot tli ■ institution and the wisdom of Gad in 
in ts ppoialnient. as tending to promote good morals ra'lier than produce 
corrupiion in society. And, asiile from the scripture argument and facts 
proving its truth, the very nature of the connection by which slavery holds 
the wiiites and blacks together in the social slate, will atl'ord oppoitunity 
ot constant improvement to the slaves, while the whites, so .'arlVom neces- 
sary coatamiaation, are freed frcm liabilities to corruption which are sadly 
fek by most of tlie hireling Siati s. 

Let us dispassionately glance at thi.s position of Mr. Clay that •' tU« 
slavery of a degradi d and colored ra-e" should be attended with ''contaiiv- 
nating influences." Why slioul.i it produce such elleiU ? Tbe very fact 
of the negro race being degraded, constitute* a line of distinct separatica 
u point of c<i<tto; and tlie color wan, pcrhapa, iutvuliuuully stamped up»i» 



IN ANSWER TO MR. CLAY. 21 

the race by the cnrse of God, which ronsiirned the rlpsccndnpfs ofCnnnnn 
to shivery iiivler the whiles for the specific piir|)ose o' niMrkiiK'' ili^it dis- 
tinction ill tlie must nwniist^ikable manner. .Now, we find, on Mr. Clny's 
showing that thi- kind ol'di-^tinct separation between the two races doeg 
and must e.xi.st. Says lie, '-The color, passions and prejudices will forever 
prevent the two races from livintj toj-ether in a state ofcnnli;!! union." 
Asrain, he sfiys 'As no wherein ttie United States are amaliraniation and 
equality between the two races possible, it is be'tcr that there slionid he a 
separation, and that the Alrican descendants shnnid be refnrned to the 
native land.s of their fathers." Mr. Clay's testimony, then, slunvs the dis- 
tinction ot" caste to be so marked that there never conld he a commingling 
of tlie two races, either by intermarriage or eqnalizat on of social inler^ 
course. Is it not evident, then that there exists no natnral necessity for 
contamination from the ju.xtaposition of the negro race to the whites in 
the conne.xion ol master and servant ?— and, is it^not trne that the pnhlic 
opinJon, both among whites and blacks, condemns to ahsolnie distrrace 
the white person wiio places himself upon a level \yitii a tieirro. But God, 
iri providentially fj.xing between the two races tlii's line of marked distincJ- 
tionot cyste, ^ind yet requiring them to remain under the same vinculurti 
of society, diti'ers as wide as the poles, from Mr. Clay, who assigns the fact 
of such distinction as the reason br tearing the ncLfro race from the pro- 
tection of slavery and sending them to the wilds of Africa. When God. 
throuLTh Noah, said. Cursed be Canaan." he also said, -a servant of ser- 
va^ntJ5 shall he be to his brethren." And we think the 27th verse of the 
IXlli chapter of G;;n8s s is now receiving its literal fulfilment, through tli'c 
institution of slavery in the Southern States, in the enjoyment of God's 
ordinances, which Shem rejecte<l. by the descendants ol japheth. with the 
the descendants of Canaan serving them. We are pretty much of the 
impres ion, too, that were the poor slaves now under the tyrant heathen 
masters in Al'rica phiced under the protection ol'the descendants of Japheth 
thriiughoul these united States, it would insure a better state of society 
at the North than they now have : for it would give them security atrainst 
the iiidu.K of European immigrants with tlieir corruptions, and would i^K- 
cmpt them Irom the prevailing fanaticism, which is fast brini'ing upon 
them the blighting curse of Almighty God. 

Although I have been endeavoi inij- to curb the waywardness of my pen 
in its desultory movements, this article has reached an undue length. We 
think, however, after touching one or two other ^ ints in the long list of 
Mr. Cday's sophisms it will come to order. Speaking further of the ben- 
efits to accrue to the whites in Kentucky from the emancipation and colo- 
nization of the blacks, he says, "VVe shall acquire the adv.uitiore oft e 
diligence, the fidelity and the consistency of free labor, instead of the care- 
lessness, the infidelity and tlie unsteadiness of slave labor." Mr. Clay's 
representation ol slave labor is rather discouraijing. indeed ! — and perhaps 
I had as well, at this point, make an admission, which by him and Ins 
friends will be taken as confirmato'-y of such representation, ami may. Inr 
the present at least, give the ahiditionists the feelings of triumjihant 
extacy. The admision is this, — That it is my full persuation that lie 
most prosperous and efficient set of negroes upon any plantation or 
farm in the whole South, would if such plantation were left to their 
own management ^nd uninterrupted guidance, sutfer it to iail to wreck 
and themselves to come to want. JVow, I sujipose Mr. Clay's Northern 
friends, the Iree-soilers especially, will think me a straiiye human 
being not, under such conviction of negro incapacity, to be a strong advo- 
cate i'uc droping slavery and adopting the elficiency of hireling white labor- 



22 A DEFENCE OF SLAVER y, 

But I rerollert lhr\t the omnirient Son ol Gml said, "The hireh'n^ fleeth 
bt'caiise lie is ■,^ hirchiiL'. urid carctli not lor the sheep." John x. 13. I 
suppose, iiiuier so hiirh iuitliority as the Savor's knowledge of the' liiiman 
heart, we triuy t;ike the a hove to represent the general prineiph'. of mere 
hireling.-^, whrther employed as shephfrds or to attend to other business. 
We must, therefore, infer that iiirelings, not iiaving any personal interest 
in the matters of their employer, will operate hut unprofiiably without his 
constant direction and supervision. What mor ; does the master liave to 
do in the case of slaves? But. moreover. I have heard of larL»'e and ex- 
pensive manufacturing estahlishments in New and Old England being 
bro'iglit to a dead halt by the oi)eratives striking lor high wages. la 
Southern establishments of this kind, the employer is frequently advised, 
for the first, by seeing wagons or carts loading with the plunder of his ope- 
ratives that they have taken offence at some trifling cause, perhaps a short 
TV rd from him or his agent and are about to leave — wliicii circumstance, 
utterly unexpected, throws some part, am' perhaps a most complicated and 
important part of the machinery into a dead stand still, till some other 
persons can he employed and taug' t to njinage it. And, v.'hat would 
be my predicament, as a farmer or planter ihpendng Uj)on hirelings, if, at 
the juniture which alwajs occurs in agriculture, lh;it a feiv day's work 
must either make or save my crop, my hinliiigs. either from oppression of 
the sun or for tlie advantaire of extorlion. throw down the imj)huiients of 
liu.sband'-y and quit my fieMs. Such a state oi things would show great 
consistency in the character of free labor, even when white ; and the plan- 
tations of the West India Isl.inds are doo'ced to goto waste, because the 
free ne^roistoo lazy to work for any wages*. I am ihus made to think 
that free and white labor, loo as it is boaslingly called, is the fiction of 
abolition cant, rather than what is represented. But let us return lo the 
consi(h;ration of slave l.ibor. and inquire into the cause of its inefficiency. 
I think the cause is to ^>e found in the l.ict that God's directions are not 
oh.st-rved. The curse disqualifi'-d the discendants of Canaan to succeed 
under their own management, which their histor} everywhere shows to 
be truej. But God's remedy for such incapacity of the Canaanitisli races 
is si^en in the decree annexed to tlie curse, appointing them to be servants 
to the other races. Now. what is the import of the term to serve? Does 
it not evidently mean that the servant is to be entirely subjected to the 
direction and guidance of the master. Let the sons of Japheth. then, 
plan the work and in a kind spirit, show the sons ot Canaan what and 
how to do. Let liiem read to the poor negroes the instructioi s of the 
Scriptures, showing that God requires them to act in subnussive obtdience 
to their own masters— to please them in all things — and to da faithl'ul ser- 
vice, as unto God, and not merely to man With these instructions mpres- 
sed upon the minds of slaves, together with kind treatment, including a 
good supply of substantial Ibod and raiment, houses for themselves and 
cldldrtn, and assured protection and friendship I'roni the master, and, my 
word for it. the slaves will love their master and serve hink cheertully, dil- 
igently and faithfully. I am constantly impressed with the conviclionj 
v/hich incriMses witli my invesligaiinn of the subject, that negro slavery in 
tins country presents the best condition of tne descendants of Canaan in 
the world; and is ii strict carrying out of tlie purpose of God toward the 
two races — and that all intermeddling' id' abolitionists is a diieci oppos- 
ing of God, and must he Ibllowi'd by the chastisement al heaven for luter- 
leriag with tiie rights of property vested in slaves, and for injuring the 
condition of the descendants of Ham. 



* ee Ko'.t* A ^Sec Note B 



IN ANSWER TO MR. CLAY. 23 

Before leaving this point. m:\y we not be pfrmittfd to remark on the 
great mislortune of Mr. Clay, in mo; huviiiir exMniinrd hi.s arguments and 
detected the incnnsi.^tt^ncy of tlu'ir hearin<r— iheir coniradictory sentiments, 
whiclt are jnmhied toi^etlier in hclerodo.K mixture— hcfure coannitlin^ them' 
to the v'oriicious apprtitcs of aholiiionisls. As for example, lio give.s as a 
reason to ii.duce the peoi^ie to emancipiite their slaves, that tliey will he 
cheered with the consi'ionsness of liavinir done unbounded good to the ne- 
gro race, in placing them in a condition to act for themselves in the enjoy- 
ment of liberty and equality. In the next sentence, he consoles the Ken- 
tuckians upon the ground that in the emancipation and colonization of the 
colored race, they will have gotton rid of lui inefficient species of almost 
useless labor, and 1 would suppose. cluicUe to the joy of I he Nortliern abo- 
litionist ill allowing the truth of my admi.'5sion tiiat tlie negroes in Ken- 
tucky, left to their own management, would rum their owners, and bring 
themselves to starvation. ^ Where then, the infinitude of good done them 
in setting them up to seif-maiiagemenf in a distant and untried region ? 
For how could the transporlation of negroes across the Atlantic o'cean, 
who under tlie example of the vvhit.-s in Kentucky, would come to starva- 
tion il lelr. to themselves, [)ossihly better their condition upon the pestife- 
rious coasts of Africa ? VV^hat tlien. upon his own showing, goes, with 
Mr. C;iay's African el Dorado 1 What with the exlalic joy of his ' aboli- 
tion friends, excited hy my frank admission of negro incapaciiy for self- 
government and Silf support ? 

But a word lurther upon the alleged benefits to the whites in the sepa- 
ration from thent of the "degrcided colored race." He says: — '-We shall 
elevate tlie character of the white labor, and elevate the social condition of 
the white laborer." Here, as everywhere else. Mr. Clay striki'S his in- 
discriminate blows at the vitals of our peculiar institution, and plays into the 
hands of free-soilers by using the slang adapted to their special faiK^y. I 
suppose they will not be so ungrateful as to omit to reward him in due 
.time and not subject him to the moral of a certain fable which exemplifiies 
the folly of caLehins at the shadow and losing the substance. Does Mr. 
Clay mean in tiie true sense of aboliiioiiism. that labor in itself considered, 
must he disgraced because subjected to the con'aminating touch of slaves 
of a •degraded colored race." and th ^t tlie white man in putting his hand 
to sucii defiled labor, must in the nature ot the case, be dishonored — be 
disgraced? And that Southern slavery has really produced an abhorrence 
to labor on the p.irt of the whites among us ? I cannot believe that labor 
is thus debased in character at the South nor must negro slavery, per se, 
be the cause of deterring industrous whites from the performance of per- 
sonal labor. 

Now in all this matter of the alleged evils of slavery, we can but think 
that most ol"them exist only in the f miiticiseil brains of abolitionists. For 
God must have known fully as well as Mr. Clay and the whole posse of 
fanatical free soilers and anti-slavery enthusiasts put together, what is 
the character of slavery ; and if he had seen it 'bus fraught with deadly 
evils he would never have appointed the institution, much less have en- 
grafted it upon the Jewish polity, and incorporated it into the Christain 
economy as an institution ol leading constituency of every well regulated 
community Labor, as the aj)pointiiient of Gt)d, must not only be honora- 
ble in its cliaracter. but must be essential to liie health and well being of 
man; fur God appointed all men to it. and maile it necessary to all, 
through their wliole career of life. — The decree to Adam and to his pos- 
terity was: •■In .he sweat of thy fai-e shalt thou eat bread till thou return 
unto the ground." But the curse upon Canaan, unfitting him through 
iuleriority, to manage lor Uimsellj and the annexed decree appointing him 



y.^i A DEFENCE OF SLAVERY, 

1o sprvitnde nnder iho otlior racos. flcsigripd Iiim douhflesg to continnp to 
\vorl< with Ins nvviin- ;is well iis for liim. GdiI then, did not. t!iird< thnt. fiie 
sons oi'Caiinnn would hrii)i»- di.sgrart' upon fiie character of" hihor. or that 
the sons of Sheni and Japhctii would he dishonored by having the a.--sis- 
tance of the Canaanite — and I hejr've that notwiths-tandintr the ^li^?repre- 
sentations ofaholishtionists, God's appointment and opinions on tliis sub- 
ject, prevail at the South. 

No liirniers or planters with a moderate nntnber of slives. deem them- 
selves or children exempt Irom work ; and they leel that it i.s no di.>'/race to 
have slaves to help thetn. Hence n)ost Southerners, (and Nortiierners too, 
who heoome resident at the South ) procure slaves l>v pnrchase. or hire, if 
able. And. ifany of'he ricli feel tliernselves or their cliildren released Irom 
lahor. they are under the sad mi.stake which perverts God's appoinmfntti, 
and which must, sooner or l.tter. hiiu'j- upon thern hi.-^ chastisements in 
those ulUictions which never \'.i\\ to hdiill the idle ; and ii'lhey are excusa- 
ble Irom laboring with their .-(rv.uits. it must he on the ground ol' being 
engaged in the pursuits of eiiurjitifin or the duties of some ])rol'ession, or 
of being elsewhere more nseluliy or prolitabiy employed in some honest 
vocation, aside from the comnioa avenues of business needinir the assis- 
tance ofservants. And.liow is^jhe c.ondi ion of the white laborer elevated 
by the absence of slavery ? Is not the reverse the fact ? II' we are not mis- 
taken, at the North, and in all non-slaveholdinsx -contmutn'ties, the servile 
classes form a sort of distinct caste, who are not allowid to eat with their 
em))Ioyers. nor associate on ternis ot iiimiliarify ; whereas, at the South, 
the whites are invited to .'he table and to the exchantre of reciprocal civili- 
ties, and are, in short, upon a fooling of greater equiiity than in any part 
of the known world. 

While, in matter.-- of civil privilege and social courtrsv, all whites, at 
the South, a' e considered upon nn eqnal footing they, for the mo.st part, 
are by duty or necessity, iiujulli'd to follow some honest employment. 
Those having ;i {V\v servants, direct them and labor with them, while thos* 
who have none labor by themselves; iiiid there is genenilly felt the exis- 
tence of mutual dependence between the poor and riidi, which is nowhere 
more strikino-ly exhibited than between the wealthy slaveholder and the 
more industrous and skillful of the poorer classes, qualified for the sujier- 
vision of the slaves, and wliose services are employed u< the mutual ad- 
vantage of the respective parties. The office of overseer has been a 
source of wealth to many a man. who has thus risen from the abodes of 
poverty. The slaves, too. being j)rotected in life, limb and health, through 
the interest and friendship of the ouner — havjnorall their necessary wants 
supplied, and none or fewof ihe responsibilities of lil'e or cares of tlie world 
devolving upon them — are the most contented ami happy class of people 
on earth. Does nol the condition of society at the South, then, with the 
institution of slavery interwoven wth the social st.ite, evideiulv constitute 
the very connexion which God intended to exist betwen rhi^ two races of 
Japht th and Canaan ? Is not ."-uch. e\i(leiice seen in tl e fact that the Di- 
vine blessings Rbutidantly re.^t upon us, in thtUiioh degree of pros[)erily 
attendant upon both nices. and in the lurther fact that no part of the known 
world pnseiits a better condition of morals than the society in the South 
•exhibits? Why. therefore, will I'aiiatics. eiihe'- ol'the South or North, in- 
termeddle with ns or presumptuosly attempt to frustrate God's order of 
things, ns established among ns ? 

W e must be excused tor a passinir allusion to Mr. Clayls glorification 
verse. Havinir justly complimented the Stale of Kentui'ky upon her lion- 
orable standinij. in connei-tioii with her sisters ol the Union, and in the 
■eyes of the world, he says, -But. in my opinion, no title which .she ha.s la 



IN ANSWER TO MR. CLAY. 23 

the esteem and admiration of mankintl, and, I may say, no deeds of her 
rormer glory would equal in gri'iiliiess and grandt-iir Iliiit o!' bciriir tlie 
pioiiei r in n.-moving from her soil every trace oriuinian slavery." &c.. &c. 
Does Mr. Clay use the term pioneer in its coiirnon acceptation, as one 
leading the way and removing dillicnlties, lor others to I'ollovv ? Then, the 
term, applit-d e.xclusiv( ly to ins own Slate, would torture its meanini'-, 
and could not Tall iiarmoniously upon tlie Itching earsofthe whole posse 
of Iree-soilers and anli-slavery enliiusiasfs who are to bear a conspicuous 
part in directing tiie occupancy of the White House in 1853. No sir: 
Mr. Clay's mearnng will be readily comprehended by those clu'i^lU' ad- 
dressed; and the South cainiotlut see that here, as ihrougUout the wliole 
chapter, the poisoned shafts of abolition are hurled at the institution oi" 
slavery, as an object ol' uinnitigated and universal scorn, and its last ves- 
tige doomed to extincf.ion as the electioneerintj bail thrown to the vora- 
cious appetites ot tree-soil, abolition and anti-slavery voters. 

JVlr. Clay's earnest and labored etibrts to blind the people of the South 
to their best interesis and induce them to nullify God's institution of slave- 
ry, reminds us of the powerful temptations so jierseveringly thrown before 
the Savior of the world to frustrate Gid's purpose of human redemption. 
The last and, I suppose, Satan thouLrht, tlie most irresistible tempUilion 
intended to ensnar*; the Son of God, was the prisentiition to Ins accep- 
tance of the whole irlory of the united kingdoms of the world. Mr. Clay 
seems to have lelt no point of temjitation untouched which he supposed 
might induce the Kentu'duans and the Southern peoj)le to throw away 
tlieir jiro])erty and j(jin the ubolitionisis in opposing Gud's appointments. 
He has so mancBuvred his cunningly-devised soplnsius as to appeal to 
pecuniary interests, to conscientious scruples, to pliilantropliic senlimen- 
talisni. to mental fear, and lastly adopts Satan's grand weajjon used against 
the invincible Savior, ai d touclu'S the chord of human glory, which gen- 
erally vibrates stronger than all others in the hearts ol the wurldly nnmled. 
And, will the sequel prove to Mr. Clay that all this menial eilori has l>een 
exerted to worse than no purpose ? We should so judge in regard to the 
citiz.iis of Kentucky, from the spirited resolutions unanimously ])assed by 
the Legislature of that patriotic State, showing that her j)eople are jet in 
their rjglit mind and incapiible ol being gulled by Mr. Claj. 's sophistry. 
And, jl we may judge the signs of the times in tlie South by itie higU-Ioned 
and patriotic resolutions emaiiatini;- from the people ol the States, tlnuugli 
their LugisJatures ai.d primary as.semlilies in every quarter, we must con- 
clude tliut iJie labor of al)olitionists will prove abortive in their attemjUs to 
induce the people to throw away their property and join the lanaius in 
their wanton onsJaught against God's institution, and in the iutliction of 
fatal injury upon tlie sons ol Canaan coiunnlled, in the Divine PruviJuucej 
to their protection. 

Judging Irom the same signs, we think the time is near by when all the 
traitors to the South, who love government otiice and national ])opulariiy 
more than their country, must expect their political glory to have icliabod 
nscribed upon it in lei ibJe characters at the South; and, Irom some sneers 
already p,.ssedat the North, we j)resuine they will be doomed to participate 
in the sad but common expenence of traitors, viz: lo be, conlennitd at 
lioiueanJ dispised abroad. Would it not liavt; be n well for Mr. (Jlay to 
liave shown Ins hand, in tlie uiibJushiiiii avowal of his opposition to the in- 
elitution of the Soulh. belbre his election by the Legislature ol Ins Slate to 
the United Slates Senate? Will not his remaiiiiiig sense of lionor compel 
liini lo resign, and not to mortify, lor the next six years, his own and thu 
other Souihern Slat> s with the annoyiiig reflection that one ol their own 
fcJeuatoj-js is an av »wed uDohtionisf? 



,fi6 A DEFENCE OF SLAVERY, 

STRICTUKE8 I PON THE TRACT 

FOR THE 

PEOPLE OF KENTUKCKF, 

Mr. Editor: — Since the fiimnus discovery of Mr. Clay, that " a vast 
inajoiily ofthe people ol'the UiiiUmI States" hate slavery ; Southern men 
with Northern principles begin hoKily to show their colours in various 
quarters. Mr. Clay upon makinir the important discovery, although his 
persevering and lon^' haHie(J hopes for tiie Presiilency had quailed in di.s- 
pair. at oo'^e tool< fresh courage and seizing time by the lore lock, made 
his last hid. coming out even belbre the inauizuration of Gen. Taylor, with 
his scheme ol Kentu(-l<y emancipation: and was especially careHi]. too, to 
let it be known that he had been on tiie side of abolition lor at least fifty 
years. 

The next aspirant to that high office is betrayed in the movements of 
Mr. Benton. Like Mr. C. he seems to liave caught the impression that 
no Southern man can ever be President of the United States, without a 
strong lilt from the North; and thut as the abolitionists are about with 
inevitable certainty to usurp the control of the Union, having obtaineil the 
elective franchise of the country, he that will hereafter be President must 
by some means, fiir or foul, work himself into their fivor. Hence we find 
the celebrated graduate of Ciiapel Hill mounted on his free-soil pony 
waving ids flag to the breeze ol" abolitionism. It is not, iiowever, our 
purp )se to divtdl upon either Mr. Clay's or Mr. Benton's revolt against 
their native South, as we have met the case of the Ibrmer in the review of 
his letier on emancipation and the ciisn of the latter we will leave to the 
disposal ol' the chivalrous and patriotic citizens of Missouri, with whose 
Legislature he lias already brought himself in direct conflict, and under 
the influence of whose members his cloven foot must become so uncovered 
before the peoph; of his adopted state, as to sink Ibrever his popularity at 
home as well as in every section of the South. Whether the abclitiunists 
and free-soilcrs will be so disgusted at his suicidaf treason against iiis own 
home as to suffer it to happen to him. as to the dog in ih^' fable, that caught 
at t!ie shadow and lost his haunch ol meat, is yet to be tested. Our main 
obiectin tnis communication is to notice the case of Mr. Campbell, a reli- 
gious refoi mer in the West of Virginia, who has in a late number of his 
Millennial Harbenger (May 1S49) openly declared himselfon the side of the 
abolitionists. We must be allowed a lew prelimary remarks belbre we pro- 
ceede to lel'ute his positions. His case has taken us with the greater sur- 
prize from the general impression producetl at the South by Mr. Campbell's 
report of his persecutions in his native country lor advocating there the In- 
stilulion ofslavery, during his visit several years since loScotland.* We had 
with olliers at the 8outh taken it for gran ed that .Mr. C. was the fast friend 
of tl e 8011th and her Institutions, in as much as hisadvocacy ofslavery while 
in Scotland had subjected him, to imprisoment by the opponents of the in- 
stitution in tiuit country. Had not Mr. Campbell designedly or otherwise 
niatlethe general impression as above alluded tO. we would not have felt 
anj' surprise at finding him a thorough abolitionist as his countrymen 
are lanalical on that subject; and as he adopted for his place o/'domicil, 
the narrow strip of Virginia Territory extending far up between Pennsyl- 
vania and Oho, where no Irieiui ofslavery could expect to dwell in peace 
or hold his property secure from the depredations ol ttiieves and rol)bers 
on each side of him. it is no wonder Mr. Campbell tbund it to his inter- 
est to free iiis tslaves about which we will in due time speak. In looking 

*Smce lliese slricliires were vvrilteli, wc have been informed that Mr. CanipbcU 
is a native ol" the Noriii ol' Ireland, but educated in Scollaiid. 



IN ANSWER TO MR. CAMPBELL. Iff 

into Mr. Campbell's Trnct for the people of Kentucky, however, nnd 
findinsT Mr. C. mounted upon Mr. Clay's abolition steed we wt^e nor s» 
much renlnded of the Conqueror AIi-xiukIit seated upon his wur-hnrse 
as we were of the officious yountr Priest, Ahimanz. the scll'appoinU'd foot 
messenger, wiio ran to King D.tvid as bearer ol' tiiiin<rs, whf n lo and 
behold! lie hadni tidiuirs to connnunicate. See II Sam. xviii. 26 — 31, 
For it" Mr. C's friends can explain to us any definite object m publislj- 
ing his tract lor tiie people of Kentucky, we will acknowledge an accessiort- 
of intbnn ition whi;h for the life of us w- hwe not been able togit!ier 
from the perusal of his piece in the Harbeui'er tor May. We do certainly 
ascertain I'rom it tiiat he wishes it to be thought that he now is, and ever 
has been, an en^my to slavery, notwithstanding the impressions to the con- 
trary, winch his heralding of his persecutions in Scotland had produced 
throughout the South. It is true we do le u'u fro.n his aholiiition Tract 
that he now seems overjoyed, that the letter of Mr. Clay and the discussion 
of tlie suhject by Soutiiern prints, (such as t ike the abolition side, we sup- 
pose he mi'ans) have removed his delicacy which had inhibited his ex- 
pression of abolition sentiments; that ti\e spirit of abolitionism so Ioml' pent 
up in a state ol" ebullition in his bosom, gave him a deal otinward trouble; 
and that in reiiet" experienced by giving vent to his feeling, he is like a 
bird loosed trom imprisonment and scarcely knows how to carry himself. 
But the question recurs, what iloes he intend to accomplish by this relief 
of his t"ei.lmgs. in turning loose his long suppressed sentiments ? He does 
not pretend to join in the hue and cry of yaiikee abolitionisis. that slavery 
is in itself an insufferable sin! He iloes not attempt to combat the scrip- 
tural argument whirh sustains Southerners in the practice ot"slaveholdiiig 
— whicli argument Ids reputation for adherency to the Bible in the strict and 
literal construi;iion would not allow him to interpret away as do son»e of 
the learned Doctors at the North. He does not want the votes oi"the 
North to put liim in the White house at Washiuixton, whither certain poli- 
tical aspirants struggle to reach, even, at the forfeiture of all political hon- 
esty and honorable patriotism; and if fishing for Northern students to be 
brought uilo the literary institution ol" which he is the President, we think 
his course will be likely to lose more from the South, that great source of 
Jus patronage, than he can expect to gam t"rom the North. 

What then, we repeat, can be the object ot Mr. Campbell in his publi- 
cation of the Tract lor the people of Kentucky," not merely iii that State, 
but throughout the country? It would be with forboding reluctance thai 
we could be brought to entertani the suspicion that it is Air. Campbell's 
aim by his present movement to raise an abolition party at the South 
composed of his numerous religious ailherents and..their friends, who by 
dividing the Southern ranks will successfully give aid and comfort to 
Northern and English timatics in their modern crusade against u.s ! Can 
it be. that Mr. Compbell having seen the unexan)i)led success of tlie abo- 
htion party al the North which constitutes the balance ol power between 
the political parties and which throwing their weight into the scale tor coii- 
didates favoring their {)rinciples have tempted selfish Demagogues to sucli 
candidacy, wlio in having their election ensureil, have already usurped the 
reins of the government; and that a similar move at the South must 
speedly etfect the extinction of slavery ! If this be Mr. C's objeci he has 
doubtless counted without his host in n)istaking tiie character ot'liis South- 
ern disciples. For it would be impossible tor hini. Mr. Clay, and all the 
English, Scottish, and Vankee abolitionists combined, to |)ersuade one 
in a hundred of rational Southerners, that there is a material ditierence 
in throwing slave property away to enhance the value of land and throw* 
lag their worth in money away to increase wealth. But, however, we 



■Is A DEFENCE OF SLAVERY, 

may lip unrrrtain ns to any pnspirioii of Mr. Campbpll'a aim to forma 
Uent-ral atiolition party at tlie Sonfli we tliiiik none ciin be (k-ceivcd as to 
his aim in Ktuitm-ky. He, encoura<re(i hy his faith in Mr. Clay's great 
discovery, (loiihtli'ssthoiiirht it a favorable jnnctnre to rally '-the tens of 
thonsinils of his (iisciplcs in Kentnfky" on the side of the "abolition I'ana- 
tics wlio under th(^ anspices of Mr. Clay's })opularity are now (lS49)eoncen- 
tratinir th"ir enoriTies asfiiinsl the property holders of that "Great and pros- 
perons and h.ip|>y coaniaiiiiry;' and it is self-evnlently Mr. Campbell's 
cherish.ed pnrpo.se to i/ive aid and comfort to that fanatical band to di.stroy 
under semblance of publii; authority, the vested riirjits of slave holders 
arid pror-tr.itc them and their descendants forever in that State ! ! 

Sb.onld not the ho.iest yeomany of Kentucky, therefore, bpo-in to 
open tliair eyes on this ])oint ? and from the I'act ttiat the abolition- 
ist.-' of England and the Norih have their spies and agtuits engaged in 
personal presence and in secret action in our midst, is it not time Ibr the 
South, eveiy where to have her faithful sentinels on post, and to watch 
with jealous suspicion the movements of Northerners and foreigners 
amonjist us. whose feelings interests and prejudices hi ing dissimlar to ours 
unfit lliem to approve the genius of our Institutions. There are both 
fbrei'jiirrs and Northerners who are Southern in sentiment and practice: 
let such be received and eiicoiir.iged amonifsl us, but let us discrimate 
between the true and tiiel'al.-;e and guard against alTordintr patronage 
to the. latter class which are lar too numerous. \\s. besides st'crel emis- 
saries sent amoniTsi us for the corruption of our slaves and for the inculca. 
tion. amongst Soulherners, of sentinn-nts prejudicial to the institution of 
.slaveiy. ivhat is the nninber ol" i'ankee and tbreio-n jireaclieis and teach- 
ers, editors and olfice seekers, merchants and mechanics, who have en- 
sconced themst Ives amongst ns behind the pretence ol" frienilship, and are 
growing rich upon the patronage ol slaveholders while they are anti-sla- 
very at heart and ; re lending the abolitionists their influence in elfecting 
divi.-^ioTis amongst us Ibr the destruction ol'our .social state, and the ultimate 
ru'in of the Southern people? Does it not behove the planters and larmes 
of the South to withhold their patronage from all such characters? Let us, 
therelore. not be squeamish in as(;ertaitiing the seiuiments and practice of 
those whom we encourage and support. But without fi.rther sur- 
nusinj as to the specific object of Mr. Campliell's move, if indeed he 
has any. we proceed to notice the absurdity ol some of his posiiions. In 
Ids introduetory remarks, he professes to feel an interest for 'llie ureat and 
laoble State' of Iventucl\y. iv t merely because it is ''the daughter of the 
great Mother of nen." meanintr Virginia, but because his •evangellical 
refornnition' has prospered more there than 'in any State of the Union' and 
that his ••devoted (hsejpjes number in that state at least several ten thou- 
*^and." Now what point is there in this argument for the removal of slavery 
from Ki'ntucky? Does not Mr. C. perceive upon his own showing that 
lus S'*cl flourishes most lu.xuriintly in slaveliolding communities.^ and 
should lit^ not apprehend (hat if Kentucky become lanaucised with aboli- 
tion priii'-iples th it his r(dbrai itioii. which has not found room among the 
Isms of tlie North, will be rooted out of Kentucky, as its nature is incon- 
genial with a. fanaticism which perirerts the literal inculcations of the 
Bible on the subject slavery? 

AL^aiii in his attempt to prove that he has always b^en an open aboli- 
{.■ionist. he gives a:< a quotation, his conversation with a Deputation ol' (Qua- 
kers from a New England abolition society. Does Mr, Campbell intend 
(br us to believe that the quoted words were his puhlisin-il language at 
ilie tim 3 referred to. and tiiat he now appeals to the identical words then 
l>ulilL>lied as pn^of ^wsitive, that he was theuatj aow with the abuliiionists2 



IN ANSWER TO MR. CAMPBELL. 2%^- 

If these were his published word^, they were douhtless intemle-d: to l)e a 
doubtful oracle, wlii -li. under his interprelatioii, ia iuc.ed tiie Siaitli to 
believe him on our side, while his explaii itioii now ijiven. sliowiiii^ aboli- 
tion sts. that lie Wiis then will) them, only piaees Mr. C. in the awliwaid 
predicament of having been alm()s;t half as loii^ us Mr. Cl.iy 'TLinnin"- 
with the hounds and holdinir with the hare." ° 

As to the '•Gentlemen of Eastern Virgniia, men owniu'^ Iiundreds of 
slaves" of whom he spoki- to the Q,iaker Deputation as buiiiff anxious to 
have the Constitutio.'i of Virginia altered so as to admit the emancj| atiou 
ofshives tirit ihey mijfht be at liberty to setlree their hundreds, it is not 
shown that thf-y were neither fools nor knaves. There are some few po- 
Jtical aspirants who whoukJ not oidy sacrifice their property, but vvoiiici 
sell their country to the abolitionists, when such barij^ain and sale wwild 
become tiie stepping stone lo iiigh olfn^ie ; and if any of then) hid families 
or children whoai tUey wished to throw desiitute upon the cold ciiarily of 
the worM by such disposiiioa of their natural inheritance, it does not re- 
quire a Solomon lo see into the causeof their fan tical injusiice. I iieard ofa 
wealtliy man in Eastern North Carolina, who under a morbid sen-^ibdify 
refused to wear shoes ant! with broom in hand had to sweep (^arel'ullv 
each spot in his pathway, where his foot prnits were to be made, in ordef 
to avoi I the unpardonable sin of oppressinir so.ne of Gxi's in .ocent crea- 
tures ol' the insect tribes. I suppose had l-.e been ucquaintid with some 
of the developments of the compomul microscope he would have perished 
with thirst rather tlian at each draft of cool fresh water have swallowed a 
miriad ol' living creatures, which his morbid judgment would p-'rliups havs 
decided to be equally entitled with himself to 'ihe enjoyment of life, liber- 
ty and tht^ persuit of bappines.^." But should it be alleged that such mor- 
bid sensibility furnish- d proof positive of absolute derangement, in a.s 
much as God g;fve us feet to walk the earth and water one of the supporters 
of human lie. Yet it may be answered tliat we have no higher grant 
from the Creator to use with active deligence our feet and to drink of the 
cooling brook foj slaking of our tliirst, than we I ave for subduing the 
beasts and usinir them either for service or food, and may we not come to 
the point bv asserting that we have no hiuher grant in either ot these 
cases iiientioned, than we have to hold in hond.ige a fellow niiin ami ap- 
yropriatc to our use h;s services under certain circumstances. F(U- we think 
Mr. Campbtdrs admi.ssions will bear us out in the declaration 'hat the 
grant in either case is equally authorized from ti e word of God. The 
N C case then explains the true nature of abohtionism and places ail 
conscientious abolitionists under incipient or advanced d. rangement. 
While the balance, perhaps, the larger portion will come umier the iiead 
of political knaves designated by Mr. John Randolph as -men of sevea 
principles, live loaves and two fishes." 

But as Mr. Campbell waives the discussion upon the scriptural princi- 
ples, having merely alluded to the ditferent opinions on the snlijcct of 
»iarery in AJr. Clay's twatlling with the exception of his ridicule and 
passes to the argumentation of jioliticiil economists, so we will follow him. 
Mr Campbell seems to bolt Mr. Clay's charging steed into this field of 
discu.ssion, with the attitude of strutting triumph. He commences by 
giving tlie information that political economists are a class of self ap|)ointed 
judges, who upon their own authority pass judgement upon the means 
and instrumentality which promote national wealth and respectability, and 
decide what communities may have attained to the true standard of 
human greatness. He is careful to designate this class of wiseacres to ha 
"without an honorable exception" opposetl to slavery in all its forms, but 
Bjost especially to nejjro slavery as practiced ia the Southern States- 



30 A DEFENCE OF SLAVER F, 

He next iriiimphiintly assures iis that Iiis personal observation based upon 
the clocnmoiitary statements ol'this aholili(»n junto, witli tlie comparison of 
the products of iree and slave lahor lor the last thirty or forty ytars, leaves 
n<U the shadow ofdoubt as to the tendency oi'the Institution of slavery to 
diminish the vvealtli. and eonse(iuently the political power of any state 
that admits it. Now as Mr. Champhell's advisers are acknowledged abo- 
litionists of ultra stamp, how does he know but tliat they may be mistaken 
in their caliailations. beiiiL' liabh; to derangement through thnir niiul fa- 
naticism or subject to blindness to the truth tiirougii llie bi.is of si-Ifish 
prejudices. And since he has drunk so deep into the intoxicatinir spirit of 
abolitionism, how does he determine the soundness of his own judgment 
in these matters, and assure hiniselllhat his premises are not erroneous, 
and that his conclusions based on false premises, do not constitute him em- 
phatically a blind leader of the blind ? 

We suppose that Mr. (vainphell will not be offended with us. if in the 
spirit of kindness, we show to himself and friends, that such is really his 
sa<i predicament. Let us then take his triuini)hant exhibition of t!i i an- 
nual products of the states of Kentucky and Ohio, his conipiirison of which 
shows the product olOiiio to surpass that of Kentucky for tlie same year, 
in value by about twenty six millions ol d jllars ; and that in a race 
of about forty-six years, Kentucky having the advantage in all respects 
(excej)t cirrying tlie .Millstone of slavery ) Ohio surpasses in wealih by 
near one hundred and fi ty millions of ilollars. Mr. Campbell pro- 
nounces these to be •■golden arixuments," and to be understood at a glance 
by every one. But is all this truth ? Is there no misrepresentation about 
this whole matter whether intentional or otherwise ? Before procei'ding 
with the refutation of "these golden arguments" let it be remarked that 
they are intended by Mr. C. to prove the Institution of slavery to be a 
ruinous incubus upon Kentucky, as being a source of impuverishinent to 
her people, and should at once be removed by I'rt'i^lng their negroes. Tha 
Wiseman says, '"He that is first in his own cause seemeth just, but his 
neigldor cometh and searcheth him." Now for the work of searclnng Mr. 
Campbell, in his comparison of the two States, he speaks in the positive 
that Kentucky has tlie advantage of Ohio, both in extent of Territory and 
fertility of soil. On referring to .Mitchell's Atlas (of 1S46) hisstatistical table 
shows Ohio to have four tiiousand square miles of I'eiritory more than 
Kentucky, and his map shows in the Scjuth eastern corner of the latter state 
considerable muuntainuus region, denoting much sterile soil which does not 
obtain in Ohio. This approved georapher, tiien in direct contradiction to 
Mr. Campbell, represents Kentucky to have less territory and more poor 
land than Ohio. Whose testimony is best ? But beside tlie testimony of 
Mitchell in favor of Ohio in quantity and quality of territory, he represents 
another item, still more important as to the relative products of the two 
states and which it looks, too. as if Mr. C. designedly overlooked in liis 
estimate. It is that the inhabitants of '^Miio were in 1S40, nearly double , 
those of Kentucky and we presume from their past increase, they now 
more than double them. Where then is Mr. C s ground of boast, 
that Ohio's yearly products surpass those of Kentucky: The tbrmer hav- 
ing four thousand squ re miles more territoiy with less poor lands to work 
and with more than twice the number of openitives? This searching begins 
to aj>proximate truth, and shows that Kentucky laborers in proportion to 
unii'ber are, perhaps, fully equid to those of Ohio, making due allowance for 
quality and quantity of soil cultivated, which is certainly the proper basis 
of calculation. Now let us go into the estimate of the draw backs, which 
Mr. Campbell entirely Ibrgot and, perhaps, to a reflecting mind th« 
amount of net proceeds will appear in fuvor of the Kentucky farmer. Mr. 



IN ANSWER TO MR. CAMPBELL. 31 

C. at one point of his braggiirt vanity t^-lls ns that "the only waees of the 
slave is his foocl, raiment and medii-iiie"— What then will llie slaves' three 
pounds ofhacon and peck of bread gtnffs per \veei< cost? — vvliich quantity 
of provision is more on the averatje than iiesroes can eat : altlio' 1 suppose 
tliat in that plentiful country they are not allowanced except to prevent 
wastefulness. 

Tiieir clothing is prepared by old and clumsy women or by the laborers 
in wet (lays and leisure seasons of the year so that the cost is not felt, and 
in that land, proverbial for liealth, 1 should not be surprised if the cost of 
medic il attention amounts to one-fourth of dollar a head, per aniuim ! 
When tills hill is footed up, it makes tiie cost of slave laborers vastly less 
than that of whites. For whenever I have employed a white laborer, he 
demands his tea and coffee and such other delicacies as would make his 
board cost at least ten dollars per month, wiiile his wages reacii from ten 
to fifteen, as the case may be — While tiie slaves '-board" amounts to. per- 
haps, less than a dollar per month in Kentucky, where the price of corn 
often is as low as twenty- five ci n!s per bushell and bacon from 3 to 4 cents 
per pound, the wages of the laborer in Ohio, with his board may bs 
counted at, perhaps, not less than from $15 to S^5 per month. Now when 
a quantity of the Ohio products is sold sulficient to settle otf with the la- 
borers how much does the lamer retain? Nothing like what tiie Ken- 
tucky slive holder realizes from the s:uTie number of operatives. And 
hence the truthfulness of Mr. Fisher's estimates showing the free citizens 
of Kentucky to be about twice as wealthy as those of Ohio, and the 
average wealth of the citizens of the wl ole South to be far geater than 
that of the hireling states ofihe North and West. I would reconni;end 
to Mr. Campbell the perusal ol'his rieigldior's Lecture comparing the North 
and South. We think he will take the more interest in the piece, 
because nothing from the pen of a native Virijinian, a son of that ''Great 
niotiier of men" would fail to be reverenced by Mr. Can pbell. 

Mr. Fisher was in early life strongly o|)posed to slavery as most young 
men and i specially those under the influence of Mr. Jetfersons erroneous 
dogma are, before investigating the sul>ject for themselves ; and which is 
an example ol proof that tiie subject needs only to be approached in the 
spirit of disinterrsted candor to convince any rational mind that shivery is 
an institution of Gods appointing from the facts connected with Atrican 
slavery at the South. No section of the world siiows the negro race more 
elevated and improved civilly or religiously than thej' are under this In- 
stitution in the Southern States ! No country on the globe presents three 
millions of laboring peasantry better led, clothed and protected, and en- 
joyiiiiT liigher religious privileges ! ! and no section of the earth e.xhihits 
the same number of laborers, so little overworked atid whose industrial 
products figure so largely in the commerce of tliv world and are more 
benficial to mankind !! ! We ask tlien why will deranged fanatics and 
selfish demagouges intermeddle with tills divine Institution and resort to 
every subterfuge of lies and the use oi' basest misrepresentations to subvert 
slavery and ruin the master and the slave ! 

But does Mr. Campbell still contend that I have not demolished his po- 
sition, from the fact that the aggregate wealth af Ohio is greater by about 
one hundred and fifty millions of dollars more than that of Kentucky, 
and that her political power is greater and with it her respectability ? 
Let us then search into these points. I suppose Mr. CaiTipbell's plea for 
the superiority of Ohio, based on the greater amount ol ag^-regate wealth 
must be resolved into the simple fact of her having become more speedily 
aud densily populated, and that slavery in this comparision is judged t» 



H2 A DEFENCE OF SLAVER r, 

be the exclusive cause ofKi'Mtiicky's more tartly progress, botli in popa- 
Intiori iiiul riiitinnal wcallh ami ^jIiouIiI therelbre- meet merited condemna- 
tion, ami lie ut once extirpateii lor t'le public weiliire of llmt community, 
iindso oT every state ami country wiiere ii exi.sis. But suppose we were to 
ask Mr. Campbell if Massachusetts or even Fenns)lvani<i did not exhibit 
a slower (irogress both in poi)uiation and weaitii tiian even Kentucky, dur- 
inj i!ie very period wlien Ohio w;is surpassing Kentucky'! If he answer 
adirniatively. he will admit that Ohio out ran those old States far more 
tlian she did the slave state. To what cause will he attribute the tardy 
jirogress of those famous stales, which had no Millstone of slavery about 
their necks? We simply make these suggeslions to show that Mr. Camp- 
bells iirgu nents are as false and as frivolous as his untrue ami infidel 
principles of abolitionism. As to the fact of speedy growth in all new 
states, tioth West and South, a common school hoy would discern the true 
cause to he the disposition of the many resi less and unfortunate adventurers 
in old settled slates to remove to Iresh countries, and especially^ does the 
influx (if foreign immigrants tend to frontier regions. That is one reason 
why Ohio increased in a given time faster than the old states or Kentucky. 
But perl aps the nMin reason ot her surpavSsing the fitter so f.ir, is seen in 
the lireat secret that white hireling laborers cannot compete with sliives. 
because of the cheapness of slave labor and therefore tin tide ofinunitrralion 
tends to free States: Now will any reasonable man see in these causes any 
just ground for the abrogation of slavery. Perhaps, we may, here also, ml- 
mit that slave holders, in order to rotation crops, retain more land than 
needed, provided they would adopt the plan of tending less soil, and having 
devoted a portion of labor to its higher improvemeni, would thus qualify it 
for greater productiveni'ss as also density of population. But the discussion 
of this f;oi.itisnot lierec.dled for. 

As to Ohio |)ossessiiig greater prolitical power than Kentucky : that, 
too, must c nsistoi.ly in share numbers, for we presume all must admit that 
the I. liter far surpases the former in talents, and it is some what unfortu- 
nate that Ohio's politic. il strength, conisting alone in counting noses Kt the 
polls and in legislative votes were not less chuructized by the corrup- 
tions of wild fanaticism. 

Nor can Mr. C. alledge that the people of Ohio are distinguished for 
displaying a purer standard of morality or for exhibiting a higher educa- 
tional polish than the Kentuckians. If then he claims for Ohio, a higher 
degree of respei-tability. that, too, must be based upon density of popula- 
tion: and by the same argument AlVica could perhaps challenge Ohio 
hers -If: for some portions ol' that sombre region are more crowded, it may 
be than the latter ; and China would compete triumphaiitlv with the 
whole world in claims to respectability. But when Mr. C will have read 
Mr. Fisher's Leeture, he will find that density of population and especial- 
ly the crowding together of the inhabitants of any eounlrv. into large cities 
and numerous villages is far more uiil'avorable to corn-ct m. rals. good so- 
ciety and true respectability, than residing in rural retireni'Mil. in sparsely 
populated communities. And he may, perhaps, in such causes discern the 
reason that the slave holding sections (dour country, especially the old 
settled States, where there are but few newly imported foreigners are 
seldom or never molested with riots or other lawless movements of mobs. 
What then goes with Mr. Campbell's bravado parade of Kentucky's 
wealth and other advantages of start in the race with Ohio? and what 
becomes of his insinuating innuemloes, intended to be more effective than 
arguments, suggesting thesuperi.r numbei o''densely populated cities in 
tlie North surpassia;/. beyond comparison the ' ot'lbe south, in sizo tmi. 



IN ANSWER TO MR. CAAJPEELL. 33 

proRperily. Afconlinjir to Mr. Fisher Mr. Cnmjhell only prnvpfs tlint sinks 
ot'sin an(J corruption are more nuiiicrinis in non-t^l.ivclioldjnir coiniliics; iuid 
that Rceiitfi 111" (lisnipalinn atid discord a n(i vvrrtihcdness ol evey kind a- 
boiind more at thi" Nonh tlian at the Sniitli. in our rotmlrv: whidi is no 
doubt ih ■ fact VVh ask thci: if a sane man would be liki biy lo dcscrv in 
ail Mr. C's proud v;uiiitin<r of NortbiTiM'xrelb'nce any just cause wliyins 
discipb's in Kentu( ky sboubl be urnfd to tin-ow tbc ir poblifaj influence 
into the 8<'ale with in xbrn abolitionists, lor the destruction ol' the jroperty 
holders ol'lhat hitherto noble ami prosperous St. te? 

But vli \ . assumes not a iVw ranati(-a| posiiions which nceil refutation — 
eays he. ' it is most satish-rrorily dccidi-il to my nnnd that sbve labor is 
the dearest and most p tiidu! labor (hat a stale can employ." II' he means 
dearest in a pecuniary point of view. we. think that position refuted In our 
previous estimate of the drawbacks on the products oi the two dases of 
laborer^?. As to puiiilulness of slav labor, it. perhaps, would require more 
of a metaphysician than niyscif to apprehenii iVIr C s precise mraiuiig in 
the use of this phrazeology. Does he intend to convey the the i(l( a ihal'ihe 
nerves o!' the negro hive a. more accutc sensihihty thin those of white 
persons? The general iaipres.-ion is I believt- tlie reverse of that iiolion. 
Or does he aim at the old abnh.tion cant, that the slave beintr under the 
control of a master i-- worked to excess and recidves no reward? Il"that 
be Mr. C's meaniuir. he knows the sentiment has been refuted a thousanJ 
nn(] one times; and can again be shown to be hoih ui tru'' and slaiidi rous. 
For l"ew si ives are made to labor is hard or as long in the day as nivst 
(Vee whitis are compelled to exert theinsi Ives f'r the support ofof tin ir 
families; and the ii' groes in Ibod raiment liousiiijj'. m' (li<ine and protection, 
receive the reward of tiieir labor with greater certainty, and to tlie insur- 
ance upon the averagi- of a hii^her degree of comlbrt than is experiincid, 
by any other class of poor equally numerous — As to Mr. Cam[)lMll's as- 
sertion, that freeing the negroes and hiring white ror( igiiers in tiieir [dace, 
would in a year raise the price of Kentucky land to an amount equivalent 
to the value of the slaves — we siipfiose Mr. C. uses the sentimmt because 
jisserted by Mr. 'lay, whom he su|)poses incapable of ir or. and riierelv 
re-asserls without pi rsonal examination. We rt peat ilie substance of 
our answer mi tlie revi.-w of Mr. (JIay's letter by askiiiL'' Mr. Campiirll if 
it is not a f ict that the best qualify ol" Kentuckv lands, affoidiiiir fiom their 
locality equal f.icilities of market, with similar laml in Ohio, d > not com- 
mand an equal price? How then could the exchange ol" slaves for dnt'h 
liirelingR make any nu rease in tiie value of lands .? It is moreover density 
ol" popul itioii. vvhicli might be expected to enhance the valui' oi laud. 
But the {)roposiiion coiUe;i;plates no increase of inhabitants. Tliere can 
be but little iloubt entertained iiy any reasonaMe person, that the eman- 
cipation of all the slaves in Kentucky (or any other slave State) under 
any conditions, would for a time diminish the price of I. mil and impose a 
heavy loss on the slaveholdets in addition to the eiglity millions of dollars 
sacrificed upon the freedom of the slaves, greatly to their injury in every 
sense.* It i.s characteristic of blind I'analics lo evade squeamislim ss in ven- 
turing asserii ms which neither they nor their wiser I'riends called to their 
aid. could [)rove true. Weil might Mr. Cann bell decline his arithmetic 1 
exhibit tiere or geon etrical d' monslralion at the close ol his Economical 
argument, where he says, in turning the negroes free, the owners will suf- 
fer no loss hut realize a profit, "is a proposition as d^-monsiralde as that a 
strait line is the shortest possible distance between two points." IfMr. 
C. had not made the e.vptriiaent and bee a speaking from personal know- 

See note B in append. x on subject ofnegro freedom. 3 



tk A DEFENCE OF SLAVERY, 

hd^e, wo pf^rhaps might have raslily ronrltiHed liis a North Caroling 
case. But let us lor a iiiometit aHviit to Mr. Cs profitable sph-ciilation in 
fj'fffng Ins slaves. Pie tio< s not iiilbrm us as to tin ir atje, sex or condition. 
He may ill tlie true si-nse ol' the terms have rejiiized n small saving by 
riil.liiig liiniseiC of the expense and responsibility ol" supportinir a few 
Ktnai}»s of I Id negroes, who at best, would in a short ti.ne be ineapable of 
s<lf eupfiort. yet Mr. C slionid remember that sm-li a e:ise would be lar 
d'rterent fr(mi the loss uf the invested value ol future cr'^ninitions, arising 
from two hundred tliou.«aiid sbives. whose past unex.'in|:|' d irirrease shows 
tlie-n to be ni'ire prosjh rmis than any cia.«s of people on earth, except their 
ftMow slavis ill otiier Soutlum States. Mr. C. trust excuse us lor re- 
'peatmg tiie r>niark nuide in our hearing', by a gentit-maii in speaking con- 
Cerniiiir Mr. C's desi-ij.les — that some of them were move Cunipbellilisli than 
Campbell himsf-lf: and so we think that Mr. C. in Jidupiiiiir Mr. Clay's 
eysteii: has become more Cli\isb than Clay liim.«eif. For Mr. Clay ad- 
niitled tliat slave hoblers in aiiopting his plan of emaeeipaliop must be 
Babjwted tn -an inconsidirabie loss." whereas. Mr. Cinipbell m ikes tiieni 
"realize a profit." Whcthi r Mr. C. in thus diffe>iie.r irom his admired 
teailcr. nni..t:^iitionally over looked his way marks or whether he did it 
from desire, ol not bein.j_- tliouglit too sycophantic, we ihink unimportant 
to a.sc,erl.:iin. 

But ag-.iin ^!r. C^mpb -11 snys without much qu;ilifi<ation. that upon the 
plan of '.Mr. Cliv, '.{.• ntu(k\ . i;) twenty-five years wonid be rid oi slavery 
and be as ire- as Ohio or P.n isslva lii." This to > is mor CI lyish than 
Clay Inns If For acconlinif to Mr. Clay's colonization il< m whirh he 
pr<-tended to present as tlie b-ading feature of bis srlieme. it would bt 
some thirty nine years tieiore lberemo\'al of the firsi reifro Iron; ihe State . 
Must we t.ike our modern Aliinviaz as b.ere attenijii.ig to rehearse a les- 
son, wliicii he h.id not fixed iijum Ins memory 1 or do s Ue expect to escape 
from this dilea ma. by hanging his assertion upon Mr Clay's 'proviso" 
allowing owners ol sl.ivis up to 1860 'to devise, sell &c." and by that 
means gel rid of all fr ni whom nfier 1860, those dt-stiiied to be free would 
ha born. Why then doi-s not Mr. Campbell say at o.'ice in the pirit of 
candor and tniih (whi-li both he and Mr. Clay have evnded) that the 
only way in which the ps«udo emanci])ation scheme of Mr. Cl.iy could be 
carried out. without indi fi.iite injury lo the slaves and toi;tl loss of their 
v^ilue tc tin- owners and tin ir children, is lor the slave holder to run his 
negroes without delay into the adjacent Soulheru St iti s, and pocket their 
value in money? 

But Fr-iltrick Don2ia.=.=i spps into that point and t'-Inks it would not be 
'freeing tl e .-!-ves. A id I suppose Mr. Cmiplell w 1 fare but litile bettCT 
<ha!i Ills p itron adviser has. under the execrations oi' that mulatto rene- 
gade, whom iNforlhHrn abolilionisis have made a mouth |we -e in their dispen- 
G'ltibn of scandal anil abns- against the people and Insiitniions ofthe South. 
Bat if the slaves upon CI ly and Ci»mpbell's shewing constitute such a 
palitr-al evil and intolerable incubus upon the people of Kentucky, wo lid 
it l>e ill accordance to ihe r^-qni'-ed spirit of neigliborty ]nvf thus to smug- 
gle them otf upon us ? But K' ntmky must be aware that such an attempt 
in order to prep;ire 1 erst-li to withdraw her fellowship from the South and 
fling her i;:tluenre into rhe abolition crusade of the North against us. would 
require tlie Sauthern Stat-s to forbid the immigration of K'-niucky slaves 
amatigst us. Under such pruhibition. the sbivehol* rs ol' Kentucky, mau- 
ger the a>sertions of tin ir prophet and Priest to the contrary, would then 
discern, that the total lo.>s ofthe value of slaves must be realized by them 
iu addition to having to suhmii to a large reduction in the price of their 
la/idi forccJ upou a glutted market, should tliey be so deludud by Uiad or 



IN ANSWER TO MR. CAMPBELL. 35 

selfish advisers, as to adopt tlio proposed s} stem of emanripntion. Besi 'e 
ihey would l>e leit to tin ir <U-ctiuii ol' evils in llie dinpo.-iiion of the ruined 
neirroes, choosing one ol" the. only two nioil<s. wliiih the cireuirislnnct!8 
could perniii: 'I'ln-y iiiust turn tlieni loo.-^e to pine in idleness disi^ipaiion 
and st.irviition junong (lie whites, as exeniplitied in the JV'orthem Stutes 
En I Briti.-ih Provincfs*; or thev must Prirry out 'lie eolonization item, whicli 
would be hut liille more huniiuie than euttinur their throats. For if no 
white man of tventueky could ex(n-et to servive the first season on the 
coasts ol'Al'riia. theeoimtry Irom which few Iravelirrs have returned alive- 
and if the great proporiion of negroes from the Atlantic stali s transferred 
to Lihera have difd like rolton sheep; what would become of llie hitherto 
robust and heil hy negroes olKenlucky. shorlly after I. Hiding among the 
lethiferous bogs ol AiVica ? But let us turn from this sickeniiiif scene and 
seek relief b_\ ( ontempjiiting some It ss jjreposterous ]>nip()siiion of Mr. 
Campbell. Take his grass proverb if }ou please, viz: -that ingrain 
growing and giass growing states, slave labor is the deare.-st 1 ibiir in the 
W'orlu." Thia we presume is one of the sophisms of aboiiiion political 
Ecoiiomisis. 

Does Mr. C. mean by it that the same number of slaves, wlio would la- 
bor profit.ihly in lendi.ig a s/iven amount of laud in cotton, soo-ar or rii-'e 
would not suppoil tliems<-i ves if set to tilling the same ground in grass ? If 
so, we tinnk with him. But if he intends to unpart the idea thai were an 
equal number of white operatives, put to the cullivaiion of the same land in 
gr.'.ss. they would pro uce a prohtatile \iild he must excuse my dniness of 
compr* hen.-ion on the point. Fori sufip'ose the negroes lould liveascherp 
ami a little i-hcaper than the wf.ites; and I can not conceive thai any tal- 
ismanic ertect ol the treading or the digLnng ol the white nian uiiaccom- 
panying that ol the negro, could impart aildiiional ferlil.ty to the soil, caus- 
ing it to gve lorih its increased quantum of hay. so as to jiay the board 
and wages of tin- white I tiort-r :iiid sield a |irofit to the land Lord, whose 
negroes (slaves) of equal number were, tuiiiging him in dt bt by not pro- 
ducnig -du equiv.ileni to tlnii- support. This preverb of abolition cant, thea 
Can be ration. ilh. B.ilved only by redu< ing the meaning, if it means an\ thing. 
to designate the general principle, that it requires a less amount of labor 
to the same quantity of land in farming countries tiian in planting region. 
And now il'it be said. b< cause it requires double the number of slaves to 
cultivate a fi> Id of a lumdred acres in cotton, sugar or rice in the At- 
lantic States, as it «lots to cultivate a field of like extent in grain in Ken- 
tucky; and that if the Kentucky larniiT liad in the same field, the number 
of the planter's hands confined to its cultivaiion. the double o' Ins lormer 
number. the\ wnuiil remler the vvlmle unprolilahle. must the wh-de therefore 
be set Iree ; s the remedy ? ll the lornicr number labored to advantage, 
who does not see that when the oper.itivis are twine as numerous as they 
should be lor protit.ibh- labor, that by removing hall' the number from the 
farm into a l.ictory, that both departments wou'd go on prosperously ? 
and if the slaves products, whether in grain or ot>.er staph-s. ovt-r supply 
the consumption and thus reduce the price to a point below the scale ol 
gain, or even support, who does not des<;ry the remeily in putting the sur- 
plus producers to m mufactunng? W y then are the S luthrrn peoj)le 
complaining that their sl.ives are over producing the great staples of the 
South with winch the markets of the w.irld are glutted ; and consequently 
prices are at the option ot' consumers and the labor of shives doing but little 
more than clearing their teeth ? While conceited abolitionists far and near 
though growing rich upou the mauvMUcture of our &liirw products ul our ax- 

""-- *ai«8 in appendix. 



36 A DEFENCE OlF SLAVER V, 

ppnap. nre rbnrfring onr (Iprrensinor wviilih to the evil ofplnvpry. Who (Toee 
i.ot see llie remedy liir mII tliis in (li\criiii;L'' ^i portion ol' l;ibor I'roni the phin- 
tiitioii and the fiirrn into the FmcIit} ? Why then, we npeiil. does the 
Soiitli tliiis con)!)!;!!:!, while she hires Northern SI ips to transport he J" raw 
material to New and OhI Entjland. to ite nianulactured to llie enrirhment 
olstranifers and reinrned lor onr use at the cost ol our enipoverishnient ! 
Look at tlie aiisnnlily oionr sending to the inountains ol'sweeden lor the 
iron and steel of which onr nltn^^ils of hushandry are made ; and to Old 
Eiililind do we send lor tiie salt to oiir bread ! while tlie materials o(" 
wniiich these ariiilep are prndm-ed. ahonnd in onr own (ountty, yes, ir cur 
sunny South. And our lahorers are unprofitahly enjraged to the ne(rlectof 
f ihrioati iir at ho.iie all these arti-les lor domuslic •-'upply, and a quantity 
fur the suj)ply ol hall' the world beside. 

Tiiere is soaietiuiiif y' more ahsui'd in our course and inconsistent with 
the principle ol' independence and s^di" preservation, tor whicii tiie God of 
heaven has inilued us with ample means and capacity. We are em- 
ployiag tile alxditioiiists (who are ungratefully abusing instead of sustain- 
ing us and our I iisl" In I ion of slavery ) to make our ni'gi' > i ats, shoes, blank- 
ets and clothes, ah ! tlie brooms with which our servants .-weep our houses 
and hi'ushes with which they <"leaii our slioes, dust our clothes and furni- 
ture, remove the crumbs tVom our tabh-s, as well as keep the Hies I'rom 
our meat vvlule we eat — all of which we should teach our chililren and ne- 
groes to make; together with our carriages and furniture; and the other 
thousands of articles for which we almost give away our cotton to 
yankees to p ly themselves: Wliilrf our tn'gro.'s should do all 
these things insteiid oi'over producing the great staples of the South. 
Kentucky ouglit to be ri'ariag up lactones as work sliojis for her ne- 
groes, and rail roads to lead to and I'rom them. ov>r ev-ry part of the 
State; instead of listening to tlie slang of abolitionists, who at this junc- 
ture (in 1«49) are waging a bloody onslaught upon the advocates of truth, 
tha' dare to laicrpose their niHuence for the protection oi'fhe sacred rights 
of property iu that State. The states of Missouri. Tennessee. North Car» 
oliaa. Virgi.iia. Mar\ land and every I'arminir comniuaity at the South 
should go into the manulacturiiiir of cotton fabrics on a large scale, so as 
to give einplovment to the poor classes of whites, who prefer that kind of 
lahor to toiling iii the field, and so as to leave enough ol' the more drudge- 
ry labor to absorb the service oi' their slaves; while the imaiediate cotton 
growing sections should do the same to an extent whicii would divert theii' 
surplus producers from making the over supply of thi? great staple. It ie 
high time w^' had hl'i Mr. Campbell's political field: tiefore doing so we 
must just quote liis crowning argument in tiie followiiig words, viz : "I have 
read with much pleasure, a recent letli^r of her (Kenlucky's) most distin- 
guishdtl ciiizeii. one ol the most enlightened and eloquent statesmen of 
the country and age in which we live, setting forth his reasons and his pro- 
ject lor ultimately ridding the common wealth of this great ilraw back 
upon her prosperity and happiness. Mr. Clay treats this question with 
the hand of a master, as a sai^e politician, and in all ll e points to which he 
has called the attention of his fellow citizens, they iiead not other or mor« 
competent advisers," 

W'c will ask why then did our high Priest think it necessary to intep- 
meddle without knovviiiir what to say, unless, to show the sycophantic 
adulation whi'h he willingly remlers to a vain old man? As to Mr. Clay'e 
letter we think any schoolboy of moderate capacity could demolish its 
fallacious positions and expose the sellishnessol itsanthor. Wonder what 
office Mr. Camj»bell expects undi r Mr. Clay's anticipated Presidency ? If 
h« IS to receive uo reward lor Bcrvicts olHcicusly rendered, why so over 



IN ANSWER TO MR. CAMPBELL. S^ 

anxious to force Mr. Cliv's fanntiriil mpasnre down the throats of Ken- 
tiickiaiis. when they niinilt'st. evident, reluc.tince to sw illo.v tli« niiin' oii3 
dose; why so nri^ently press his niiaierons desci^)h',-5 to fill into the nin'<s 
of the aholilioii purty to despoil t!:e si ivtdioiders of their properly, contra- 
ry to tlie wortl of Goil nrid airiinst every p:ineiple o'' iustiee? 

But now we will proeeert to notice S')n)e of \lr C's false positions in his 
moral field of arurn nentation. In passi.iir into this fi Id. wi- are reminded 
more than ever of the case of Ahiuiaas, the priest in D.ivi.l's day. who 
when as.ed for his rnessaj^e said, "when Jo ilt sent the Ki.iir's servant, 
and me thy servant. 1 saw a nrreat tnniult hut I knew not what it was" — 
If anything ^\lr C. renders his case somewhat the n^ore ridicnlons of the 
two, when in aitemptioif todefime liie Idstitution ol slavery, lie exlnhils the 
condition of the siav. as preferalde to tliiit ol' the master. Soiumon 
ihonsht the scene 01 the master on foot and the servant on horse was an 
evil under the sun L^reaily perverting the purposes of God (Eccles. x. — 7) 

But .Mr. Cimp!) -Il's snhversion of the relations whiidi God lias estab- 
h'shed to he of perpetii il eontiaiiiince among his creatures, far surpasses 
tlie case whudi 8oioiiioa woald expose to the contempt of ri.licule. 

When Mr. C. quotes tlie langu ige of Paul 1 Cor. vii 21. ''art thou 
called being a servint (slavi^) care not for it; but if tlinu mayest 
be made I'ree choose it rather " he would, we suppose be understood to 
mean that the l.itter clause applies to rhe master as to the slave : Up( n 
which requirement he ur^'es Chistian masters amono-jst his disciples to 
use the opportunity alibrded in Kf'ntueky t.o I'ree tliemselves trom the in- 
tolerable ttoiidaiJ-e of slavehoiiling, by joiriinL'' the abohiioni.-ts in remodel- 
ling the Constitution ol'that state, so as to carry out Mr. (day's emancipa- 
tion project. Now are we to understand Mr. C. asadvaixd. g the doctri; e 
that God's commands must alway be reciprocally .ippiied in mutual obli- 
trations : As between master and servant the master is to obey the servant 
and in cases ol husbands and wives, and parents and cl;ildren--The husband 
must obey the wife and the parent the (diiKI ? We presume tiiat Al)bey 
Folsom in pleailiiiir liie rights of women, wouiil hardly give su<li interpre- 
tation to the sacred jirecepts. Again when the apostle to the Callosiaiis 
says, "masters give unto your servants that wliicli is just and equal knowing 
that you also have a master in lieaven." 1 had always supposed tiiat this 
scripture referred to tlie condition of servitude amoiiL' the Greeks, as being 
extremel V rigorous and often not aHi)rdiiig the slave tiie means of coiulorta- 
ble subsistence ; and tiiat the gospt I required an amelioration of such rigor 
by the n aster's uiving his slaves proper pioteclion, looil, raiment and 
medical aid. without shewing ini|)rop' r pirtiahties among slavts. But 
Mr. Campbell has Ibund this divine iiistruetion to make a requisition upon 
him truly Irightfiil. Whether he thinks if requires the equalization ol the 
slave wilii the ciuld of the christian master, in tlie division of property or 
not, he seems to be ideaidy convineed. that it does place tiie slave upon 
equal looting with the child in educational (daiins. 

For he inlers from it that the maUer is bound to use lor the education 
.of the slaves '-all the means in his power." The n)aster woidd have it in 
/' his power " to s(ieiid all his money upon the education of his slaves and 
.then to compcdl his children to go iiito tiie field with him to work i'or more 
to bestow ill like manner upon his servants' education : Rendeiing the con- 
.<lition of the servant in truth preferable to that ot' tiie child and more en- 
viable than that ol 'he master. Does Mr. C. intend us to understand 
sarh to he the ohiiga'ioii of Ciiristian masters to slaves, and tnat coming 
short of its fulfilmeiit. would amount to a forfeiture of allegiance, to Christ? 
and was it to got lid ol such cligatioiis to his siavea, that lie freed them 



SS A DEFENCE OFSLAVERY, 

and in dninjrso he freed hinipclf rrom nn infolcnhle hondn^e. dfliveranre 
from wliiili ir-.we. Iiini rupiuroiis jny ? But wo vvnnld rnqiiire for a mo- 
meiil. if such wj-re rriil'y his chriHtiiui ohn^iition tovviird his sliivfs would 
lie he rcleiised by the act of manuniitliiijr 'I'f'iTi. without, nrnishing to 
them tiie means of fifi'diriL' their own education? Why not. be at equal 
liberty to send ofl' his children too. upon the cold charity of the public, 
and tiius rid himself of tl e parental oblijrat.on to educate and fit out his 
children for life? But we are here remin(ied that we mieht have been 
mistakei in suppossing that the ncirroes set free by Mr. Campbell were 
oil! worn out. stumps of servants. Perhaps, there may have been among 
them a youns womiVn with a rising family and likely to have a nuntermis 
ofispriiig ; which would have taken the whdi' income of the harbinger and 
his colieo-e salary into the barffain. to educate them j'ccordiuij to Mr. 
Campbell's sense ol"Cliristain obligation; and that by persuading the wo- 
man lo accept a ticket of freedom lor herself and i-liiidren he freed himself 
most jovtnlly from his friirhtfnl servitude to them But we would ask if 
^Ir. (). informed the motiie'' that he was thus bound for the educa ion of 
her children, and that she stdl preferred the boon of Ireedom ? If so we 
need not wonder that he should judije so unfavor; biy of the -inferiority 
and comparative dullness" uf the race from such an example of stupidity 
of intellect. 

But let us again ask Mr, C. what progress that poor woman, without 
education herself and having no other nn-ans but the proceeds of her per- 
sonal labor to supjiort hersi If and chililreii — what progress has she made 
in ertecting the education of her children? Thousands of such while fami- 
libs in our country have to go uneducatedj unless the pnbiic have made 
provisiiiiis tor them — and even then the helpless mother may too much 
need her children at home in obtairMug food and raiment, to allow them 
time to go to even the fret school. Thousands of such while fanulies in 
Ireland have for several years past bten upon the point of sl;irvation for 
want ol bread 1 Hundreds of such fannlies of tree blai-ks in the nonslave 
holding stales languish in squalid wetchednrss — sutl'ering for fire and 
clothiiiir in \\ inter — tor food of wholesome quality lioth in winter and sum- 
mer — and for s()lritual instiuction all the time !.! VVinre is the ability for 
obtaining education among such ? ." mong the pof)r classes ol those coun- 
tries where slavery is attempted to be excluded, the children seldom get 
any scdiooliny, while thousands are in the receptacles ol' charity or in the 
drudgery service of miners and coliers. where they s< Idi m see the light of 
day; while thousands are released from their afflictions in their loathsome 
haunts of wretchedness and starvation by the kind hand ofdeaih!!! 
But pernnt us to ask if Mr. C ever saw a shjve, who was incarcerated 
as an inmate of an almshouse or did he ever know of one starving to 
death or perishing with C(dd and nakedness in the Southern states? while 
he has doubtless heard of numerous instances of the sori among the free, 
and in ctunlri<s ol boasted freedom from the curses of slavery — and does 
not Mr. C. in such liicts recogidze prool of the divine appointment of tlie 
hated Institution of slavery/ But to return lo the suhjret of ednc.aion. 
where is seen the obligation upon the Christian masters lor the education 
ol their slaves beyond the sl.ives' ability to educate them.selves. if put upon 
their own resources? And il the poor in most free countrits get no edu- 
cation lor the want of means, the question recurs, whence the obligation 
upon the ma,-<ter in those slave states which in selfdefeiK-e ai^ainst insur- 
rectionary movements of abolilionists are compelled to inhibit the public 
education of their slaves — whence we say 'tlie obligation upon such mas- 
ters — to fcstaLliaih private scliools wiliiiii the family circle and to confine 



IN ANSWER TO MR. CAMPBELL. ^ 

their porKonnl nttentinn or the hire^ servicp of a private teacher to inetrwt 
slaves?' 'ami how do siirh mntiters Ibrl'eit tli. ir allegiance to Jeeue Christ 
by failing to fulfil sm-li ohiisratiuii ? ' 

For Christ Ims, vvc. hi'iieve, no where required any other than oral in- 
struclion to be given to the poor of any diss. He represented the e-xct I- 
lency of liis school to rousist in the great fact, 'the poor have the gospel 
preached to them." Paul says, "it pleased God by the foolinhnees of 
preaching to save them that believe." and the great comnnssion of the Si\- 
voiur to hisnposiles was ''go ye into all ihe world i\M\pieach the <rospel to 
every creature.'''' Mr. Campbell was then bimnd as a pater taniilias to in- 
truct his servants orally or cause tiu-m to have Rihbith opportiiuif.i.'s lor 
such instrui-tion in the gte it principles ol" the gospel salvation. We wdl ask 
if his freed finiily ol nej-roi s enjoy any higher pr'v legi>s in tlnir rree<lurft 
than they did in his f imily circle? Sabbath privileges most Southern slaves 
have, and we venture to assert unhesitatingly, thai, in the enjoyment of 
such opportunities, they have higher advantaL'-.'s of spiritual i.istruciioa 
and menUil culture than eight temhs oi'the inhihiiants of the wh<ile globe; 
and. pernaps, w- miy say, than one half of some the most enlightened 
parts olthe world. 

For illustration. I saw lately on good fiuthority. a statement that more 
than half of the piople of France cannot read and v/rite : And every 
one knows that they are engulfed in the d ^rkness ol infi.ielily and 
Catholicism. Ireland worse still — Spain as bad — even in Eughnd. 47 
in the iuindrecl caruiot read and write — ainJ yet no n)illstoneol' slave- 
ry hugging about their necks. Biit helbre leaving the suliject of 
education, will Mr. Campbell inform us whether good old Abraham 
educated his slaves at a college ? It" he di<l. and board and tuition in 
those days were: as high as at New Bethany Collegp, it must have 
cost him a round sum, as it is probable he owned several tiiousands ! 
Once niore belore having the educaiion department, Mr. Campbell must 
excuse me lor alluding finally to his method oi'geiting rid ofnidral obliira- 
tion to slaves. I do m>t myself believe that he was hound or. principles of 
Bible morals to have carried his shives througii a lull course in tlie Betha- 
ny Collegf — i;ot merely because it miglu have renden d the Institution 
unpopular .ind suhj cl' d'him to Ihe loss ol" much ol' his Southern patron- 
age — but because. I .see no scriptural requirement lor yiving slaves of the 
Alrican race, so high preference over the whites of the Cauca.«siii race, 
who by thousanes and millions have no means to get common school, 
much less, to ohtaai i-ollege learning. But if Mr. Campbell felt hiujselfso 
friglitlully bound to educate them to tlie whole e.xtent ol his power and of 
course to aflbrd them colleu-e instruction, how has he manageil to get the 
sin of oaii~:sion washed from his elastic conscience? For 'he apostle 
James iv. 17. says • to him that hiowelh to do good nnd doeth it not to hint 
it is sin." Now, ifheftlt mnrally hound to educate thoss slaves, and knew 
to moral certaiulv, il turned upon the cold sympathy of ihe world penny- 
less and deferisele.-;s. that they could never become educated — couid never 
receive the good wi.ich he felt conscientiously bound to conf r upon them, 
we ask how could he feel himself clear of his obligaiion to them by set- 
ting tbimi free and thereby lessening tiieir privileges and making worse 
their condiiioii. for the selfish pur|iose, too. o!" bettering himself? Mr. 
Campbell will doulitlrss panlon me for these sugirestions of my scruples aw 
to the rectitude of Ins system of Ethics on the subject of moial obligations 
— and will he not allow me to remark once for all on this point, that the 
whole case reinia is Mi^'. of the gener.il Ethics of Abolitionism. Frederick 
Dougl IS by the si w- system justifldd hi.iH.df in iiog stealing, and I sup- 
pose it is by the same system that citizens of the North evade the Coasti- 



# A DEFENCE OF SLAVERY, 

t'lfional T\n(\ BiMf obli r.itjnn in rpcrnni to right.-? and prnpf»rtv in dfcoymg' > 
off by tiioiisiiiiils our sl.ivca; and hy it llit'y, perluips tV»-I sn-lf jiisfificiiiioni 
j I t ikiiif iVoin us our shtrn in tlirt wlmlt^ of the Mt-xtcun arqui-iition of 
Territnrv as the rui-ans of 'lesfroyine the viliie of our si ive propi-rty. 

\\\' p-oce.-(i to notice Vlr. Ciinipli'll's posirion.s. shovvinsr tlie iinmoral 
tendency of slavery. H re, too. i.s seen noMirhf but the s inre ronfojiec} 
"tumult.'' and iiu'i.-tinci, vi-ion coiii^titnting a doiihtful orarfe. Poor Ahimaas 
had to stand hv a.< uiwortiiy to d liver a riic^saire of truth. Mr. Camp- 
bell at'tcr 1 luiichiag with iTiuch br)i(tn<'ss into the Rcid of neirro corruprioii 
and di.-jplayiiii; a (ie:il of eloqurice o'l the subjecf o!' chiKlren's being ru- 
ined i,i ihe nur.'.'erv l>y he n>r ■•r-ommitted to nejro kitchens " seenit-d sud- 
denly to bethink liiin.selef that dest^er.iiritr per.<ons will recognize but lit'fe 
diHTereu'-e as to tlie a.lvr mtatre in black nurses at t'.e S')uth and white 
nurses at the North — i.itiiiiatcs that it wuuhJ probably be hcsf to follow t'e 
fxanifde ol" European Lords and nohhs. who in the educjitron of their 
Chililren never allow them to go from under their personal inspection and 
Avatch care. I presume that parents in this roiinfry. both North and \ 
South, uidess it beof th(^ wealthy c'asses, cannot spare time, to eye their 
liitle urchins all the vvliile: in as much as most of parents of b"th sexee 
niusT. he gener illy entr iijed in I iboring in some business to support their 
families ; and are thus under some sort ol stern nt ceso-ity to comniit their 
children to tiie rare ol"tnirses. Mr. C. thinks, howevt-r, that the chances 
are somewhat bi'ttcr with white nurses and hired loo, bi-cause they can - 
be selected carefidly and dismissed if iound unsuitable. But we ask if the - 
s ime can not be done in rcj-nrd to negro(!s to whom children may be com- 
mitted beneath the domicjl of tiieir mothers? 

The truth is, when house servants at the South are found unfaithful or 
immo!'iil. or ni any maimer unsuirahle for the olfice to which they are ap- 
pointed, they are at once put into the field just as quick as Mr. C's white 
servants, who m ly h^^ ujitrnst-worthy ran be (iismi.ssed ; and I suppose, 
others can be selected as soon as the whites can be ohtainefi from their 
intelliiTence ortii-es Jit the North. For ii'a suitable sncce.ssor to the negro 
dismissed to the field (tannot he fouuif on the plantation, th re are trained 
house servants always kept at slave depots for safe — and it is ibn.s, that 
ia point of honestv. morality or i it'lligence. it" he may be ple-ised to know 
ih e f ict house s rv Hits ol'the South will compare lavorably with the white 
servants the world over. For none of the whites but the lowest cJass, 
who are without education and. therefore. iih;apahle of other and more 
profitable bvisiness. eng ige in the duties of servitud.; — atiJ oirr most, intel- 
ligent slaves, selected from the hi>rher ranks of their race, are app(>inted 
10 house service. It is then, perhaps, clear to any thinking mind fliat ne- 
irro nurses are likelv to be superior to the whit ;s who are 'bund in that! 
department. For aholiliomsts wdl doubtless admit the highest of the 
netrro ru-e to be superior to the lowest of the white races. 

Besides, as to ciiildren at the Snuth l)eing corrupted incorriijibly by- 
negroes what do g('neral facts tesiify in the case? where are the jw ople of 
thi:' Sieithern St it .s surpassed bv those of any stite or country whatever, 
at the N'lrth or in Europe in refinement of manners, soumbiess ol" moral's, 
o-enerosiiy of ch.iracter or noldeness of miml — or fi)r eorrectuess of diction 
or accuracy in the pronuiiciation c.f theif vernacular tongue ? The South- 
ern people speak the Eaiihs'i laiiiruage better than the peopfe either of 
New or evt.-n those of old Eagl ind. where Ihe l.mguiL't; origmMtcd. As 
to Mr. Camphelfs refereiure to P.iuPs qnorinu from a heathen poe}, '-Evil 
communieations ijood mannners corrupt" in proofof the cnrrupp influence of 
slaves, wonder if it does not npply equaljy to the corn.pt i.iHuenee «>f ♦ 
whiles? ij also, will quote direct the Bcuiuneiit of the sanie apossle ia 



IN ANSWER TO MR. CAMPBELL. #^ 

proof lha» th're i.« no psf-apinor the rorrnption thnt. i? in the world overj'- 
where. Piiul, I C(ir. v. 9. says, '-I wniU^ u.ilo yon in mi Ejii.-^tle ri'^t to 
ccompiiny with foriiinators : yt*t. not iiltoirtfifr witli tiu' loniirators ofllii.* 
world or with tht- coviMoiis or extortioners or with i lolator.-j ; lor then must 
ye need yrc out of the world." We think it very M'.<i ly^ that Mr. Oamp- 
beil to iri't ch-ar ofsueh corrupters in the [)rf'sent day. would have to le;ive 
the world. For we pnsutne he would meet such rharaetiTs as the ijpos- 
tle desrrilit'S. and sf-e evidenees of their (•(^rruptiiiii iaHuenf^es in every quar- 
ter of the globe, wherever, lie mi^ht find men in the sori i| state, civilized 
or savaife. We nri;;- tlie que.«iioii, where would he iro to fiad i.icurrupt 
society? Not certainly to Scotlaml. his father land where tliey inearcera- 
ted him for defen.lia^ the Bible, and where he mi^lit fi.'.d in their liauiitiN 
of inequity nuiltituties, literally rottin^ with loathsome disi-ase n suiting- 
from secret or public iinmuralities ? Were he to y:o to E liilaiul he vvoulJ 
find no better state of thins.s. In France, if we mistake not som •thin^' 
more than half a ctMitmy ago they elevated upon a plili'orm, a harlot ami 
proclaimed her the supreme ohj'ct of national woi'sliip!!! These are coun- 
tries whi.-h profess tu hale slavery and yet no part of our si.iveholdinfj 
country more corrupt. Nor would Mr. C. meet with much better success 
in his search for purity in human society, were he to roam "the nniversaS 
yankee nation." For accordiii:i- to the developments of their News-p<pers. 
cases of intrigue witli servant girls are of no rare occnrriie .• Aad. we saw 
stated by a Fliiladelj)h.a Kd:tor. several years since, tiiat at lei\st a dozen 
abolition preachers had been charged with such immor ililies in the course of 
a single year* — wonder if Mr. C. has ever found the equ il of that everj 
among the nc'groesofllie South? With tliese fwis slariaj- hia) in the 
face, lie does well however in hailing from Sco land an. I dumiril.ni upon 
the Virginia tongue of abolitionism to set himself up fully authorized to 
lecture the Southera stites on Eihics, or r ilh-r repro fli us for beinc^- 
signally immoral and incorrigibly corrupt. But Mr. Cainph. I! liads it ditii- 
cult to satisfy his spleen against the abhorred Institatina of s! iv-ry. it i.s 
not enough to denounce it as a political incubus upo.i n itionai w-^ilrh and 
private prosperity and as a huge pandora box speading its n>oraI dessola- 
lions in society, but he tiiinUs he has discovered in it the qniatescence of 
all that is despicable in despotism. He says ' tiiere is a lawless absolufisn^i 
on the part ol"the si v.. master and unrestricted sub iiissio.i on the pirt of 
his slave, that constitute the essential and ditlereiiiiil avtribut .s of tlie re- 
lation," airain. "Cru 1 masters are few compared with tlie huuiane. yet the 
tendency of the relation is to degrade rather than to elevate the servant and 
to render haughty and tyrai.ica'l the master." Where h;>s Mr. C. Ibund 
such traits exi'iihlted in tiie, parties conctirned in the Institution he is seek- 
ing to destroy ? Does he iralher it from the s.acred history .' not fn^m th« 
case of Abraham sendia'^ Eiiezer to seek a wife fo' his son Isaac— nor E- 
lisha ami Gehazi : nor Naaman and the Ceninriont; not in tlie illustra- 
tions given by Christ showing the superiorly and authority of the master 
over the servant— see Luke. .\vii. 7—11. and a variety of sinnlar allusions. 
In all the scriptural examples and instructions pert lining to the Institif- 
tion, superiority is recog ized in the master and ohedicnce and r.specttul 
submission on "the part ot' the servant, but not a case ol lyranny in tne mas- 
ter and crushed spirit in the slave, which Mr. C. alledires— nor do I beheve 
the lusiiiutjon in itself sii.-iceptible oi su(di tendency; fmt that the abolitiou 
cant which so char;."'S it. i.* a ilirect libel upon GotJ its author. It 
was certainly not God's intention to deiirade ih ■ descendants ot Canaan 
by appointing them to servitude under the desceiidtints ot Shem and Ja- 

•oee Mell on Slaveiy, p. 27. fGen. xxiv. II Kin^s iv & v. Mai viii. 



42 A DEFENCE OF SLAVERT, 

phcthas ihrir jriii:l(>s and (Tii;ii(1i;ins. but to prpser%'e. tlipm ffm a condi- 
tion o((li'<_rr.i(lMti()ii to wliirh tin ir sell' niiuiiiircriiftit utult r t^-e rurse al- 
i-e;uly iiiHi'ted upon tlif-ni. would in the rinturf of the ruse, rednce th<Tn 
\inassiistrd bythc irunnli in-liip of the more iiit( lii>rent Fiirrs; i\u(\ we think 
the condition oi't'.e neirro race every where, luxler the control of the sons 
of Sheni nnd Jiipheih is shown to hr heltired. when c»imp:>ri-d to the ne- 
frroes !:-lt to nianagf for ihentselvep; wliirh proves the Intstitntion to have 
been inte'ruled lo | romole tlie wel.'.ire ot'nesrroes. nnd not as asserted by 
sell'-conctitrd ahdii'ionist.s to iiave an evil tendency in tieir cape. God 
knows betjer how I i arrantre Tor his creatnri's tlian they do lor themselves; 
and eve'r\ man sliould suspcft. hiniselt'ol' heiny in liie wronij when lie un- 
dertakes to find fault with God's appointnn'nts. And why should the Institu- 
tion tend to render the "slave master t\ ranidi'al. hauL'^litv and doirrnalic."' 
it is rennirkahle that God prononncesa blrssiiig ujioii bnih Slit-m and Ja- 
phetli in connection with their being appointed to he slave masters — see 
Gen. ix. 24 — 28. Surely the tendency to produce the traits of character 
alleds-ed wnuld make their connexion with t-he Iiisiitulim an evil and not a 
hlessiniT : A, id that tlie mistake was not on the part of God, but of Mr. C. 
and his cornrad' s we thiidv, reference to facts in Instory. .sacred and pro- 
fame, will aliund tntly prove. To be brief on this point look at Abraham 
and his iVIlow prophets and patriarchs, and find if _\ on can su'di traits so 
produ 'ed ill them; and will not Southern sl.iveholders eompare favorably 
with those of equal wealth in the North or in any section of the world, 
who do not hold slaves, for urbanity of manners, beiievolen<"e and g* n- 
tleness oi'disp. siiidii and meekness and hnmiiitv of spirit. Where then 
the evidence that the Institution engenders the leiuKneies ascribed to it, 
by blinded ahulilionisls? 

But let us look at the antithesis of the di'scribed evils of slavery to master 
and slave. .Vlr. C says. ''While there is hut a limitted auliionty on the p\rt 
nfan ordinary master, and restTved riiriits on the part ol"a hired servant, 
that compared with the former, renders tin* latter relation safi\ virtuous and 
lionoralile." When the pauper cla.ss or the de'pendenr, poor mnrh abound, 
wliich ihey are apt to do in non-slavehohling countries, how much less 
limited tlie autiioiiis- of the "ordinary master." tluin that of the -'slave 
niaster" on the (jther hand ? The hired servant is conscious of dependence 
upon the emplover for continuance in his service, or a lavurabli- certificate 
of commendation — for disrni.-ssed witiiout which it is with delficult.y he can 
get any eniployrneiit. Is not -such poor person then snhjeeted to a more 
tjijurinus and humiliating authority under the selfish employer, who has 
no other interest in the nired servant than to get his service a', the cheap- 
est rates? In what is tlie rtda ion. of suchahie"t cronchinij and dependent 
iiireling. more s.ife than the slave's, to w! om (he ()wnershi|i in his master 
pledges I im ample proieclion? How is the relation lilher more virtuf us or 
honoralde, when it subjects the male and the female to suhniission to any 
terms l!u^ employer may propose, or to he cast ofi' without any certificate, 
compelling each to resort to such means of sn()port as their necessitous 
coiuliti<ni may dictate? It is thus many an unfortunate niiiu has been tempt- 
ed to join lh< murderous banditti of robbers, by sea or land; and it is thus 
many heljilees feinah s originally inclined to the path of virinre have been 
driven into dens ol" prostitution, as the d> rnier resort for bread. 

But it hirelings he scarce, what feature favoralde to s.ifety, virtue and 
Imnor is then presented! Is it seen in the strikes liar biijh wages, which 
the employer mu<t grantor have iiis business.nl whatever important 
kind ir. be. forsaken — Ins f.ietories to st nd still or tlie gr is- to t ike his 
fields, or their pnnlucts to rot unharvested? — or is it seen in the numerous 
tawlesd riots, vviiich luukc rccklciss destiuclloii of life and properly, intaii- 



IN ANSWER TO MR. CAMPBELL. f5 

ces ofwMrb PI i'adt'lphia, New lork, and other portions of the North fr*- 
qiipntly jTepeiit? 

But Mr. Ciimpbpll unlnckily for him, in his present, onslanirht upon our 
Insiitntinn h^si proved it to be, sanirtioncd both '-in the law and ffoispel of 
God," Does he nni see then that he is lii/htinfr unih'r a recK less standard 
raised ng'airist the God of tiie Bible ? atnl that alter his admission, he in 
adoptingr wdl nij-h to filagiarit^m, the iangnage of Mr Clay and other an- 
ti-slavery standard hearers, can not have any adequate ronreptinn of the 
awkward predicament in "vhich he has thoughtlessly plaeed himstif before 
the world? He says, '-True indee<l. as we have bt.-lore ahnndantly prov- 
ed, the relation of master and slave or as many prei'er to express it, 
master and servant, is recognized in the law and tht^ gnspel of God.'' 
This sei-ms to have reference to some former treatise which we have not 
seen. T suppose, ii was exhibited in the Harbenger some years ago in con- 
nection with the report of his Scotland difficulty, and which induced the 
whole South to think him a great cliampion for our Institution. But what 
is it he has ••abundantly proved." W'iiy. in substance, that God appointed 
the Institulioii of t-lavery and gave it the highest sanction of his autKoritv 
by incorporating it into the Abrahamic covenant, as seen in the ordinance 
of circumcisirm ; and into the dispensation from Sinui as reco-ded upon the 
two tables of the Law; and that Jesus Christ sanctioned tiie righteousness 
of the diviae Inslituiion of slavery by ingral'Mng it into Ins gospel recrula- 
tions to run piralfd with his kin.rdom on earth. Now after such acknow- 
ledgement of its divine appointment can Mr. C. think the Institution of 
slavery susceptible ol' tlie evil tendency, he ciiara^es upon it ? and in hie 
attempts to prove such to be its legitimate tendency, tloes he not under- 
take to show that Goil himstdf was nustaken in his arrangements, and 
that his design in appointing the Institution of slavery had proved a 
failure in being productive of results, the reverse of those intended? For 
it most he (de;ir that the God of Heaven never gave his autl.oritati/e san- 
tion so fully to an Institution, which he did not intend to etfect the mutual 
good of the parties between whom it was to operate : and it is further cer- 
tain that God could not be deceived as to the tendency and results of this 
Institution. Tiie mistake is altogether on the part of Mr. Campbell and 
the mad clan of his fellow-aboliiionists. The ownership ol'the master in- 
stead ol' beL'etting the spirit of "tyranny, haughtiness and do.i ination' pro- 
duces a com phi cent regard for hisslave.as his property; and a d ej) sympathy 
for him as his dependent; and a warm friendship lor h in as his fellow man 
— a friendship higher than that felt for a hired m;'.n in whom his persona* 
interest is not concerned. Instead of cringing servile and abject fear in the 
slave, he fe* is that la's master is deeply concerned in his weJIare, both from 
interest and humanity; and he reco>»'iiizes in him his divinely appointed 
guardian — Ins adviser — Ins only protr'ctor and best friend: and the slave 
under the working of a grateful heart, forms an aitachnn nt whiih is often 
so strong as to ri.-<k life in the defence of his master and his family. These 
are the legitimate bearings upon the parties of this diviiuly appointed In- 
stitution. U irk and fiendish mnsi be the spirit that seeks to pervert this 
original beaiiiiL'" ol' the Institntion of slavery, by bursting the bonds of 
friendship ulnch hind the parties: And for the purpose o! arraying them irj 
hostile attiiude. Such is the spirit of abolitionism and such its hellish pur- 
pose! Ami \ 1 1 Mr. Campbell knowing slavery to t>e God's Institution, joins 
the aboliiioidsts in llu ir infidel crusade against it. What will be iiis I'earl'ul 
reckoning at the bar of his final judge 7 

Be it iVlr. Campb'll's unenviable preiiicament to be found denying tho 
divinely recoifiiized Institution ol heaven for the purpose of trailing at the 
feet of a veteran tleiiiagoujje and u traitor to his country. But be it my 



^ 



A DEFENCE OF SLAVERY, 



humble lot to be fnund amoncr the friends of my ronntry and defend- 
inij tht! BiMt' :iin) its rlifrisht-d insfitiitinns Were I iihnut tnercfl a dom- 
icil lor my life time ;ihode. ;uid desired lor the purpose to choose the section 
ol' the world Ire* st Irom coirnpt influences, and whose socii ty is most eonge- 
niiil to jrood irovernment. mentni eliisticity. rehirions influence and human 
hrtppint'ss [ would piject a residence in the Snutheri>. Stales: hi the bosom 
of negro til:ivery. In the doin.ij of which, a'tiioutrh 1 mitrlu have heaped 
upon me the sneers ofaboliiion contempt, yet I should fee! myself sustain- 
ed by the san<-tion of liitrh and sacred authority. For God chose the bo- 
som of ■slavery upon wlii'-h to rear all his ancient proph<ts and wise men, 
(jistiriguislie<l lor li<»h"ness of heart and purity of life; for enerL'y of charac- 
ter and effiiicncy of action. And it was in the hosom ol" si in'lar society 
he chose the hi -th pliice and i\urtiire of his son, the holy child. Jesus, who 
approved the Institution of slavery as oT God's appoiii'ment. and which 
he. by approval iind precept conmn nded to posterity under his divine sane- 
lion as constrtuting the best possible state ot" human society to exist from 
his day to the end of time. 

But it is time to notice Mr. Campbell's last charge against the Institu- 
tion of slavery. He says, '"the genius of the age is ay.iinst slavery. A 
King in Virginia or Kentucky would not be in the eyes of Europe and the 
civilized world more anomalous and discordant, than slavery with the f'e- 
niue of oar political Institutions, and the boasted liberty and progress of 
our country." Is nrtt this modern Ahimaas, here again dehided by his in- 
distinct viiJion. which forbids him to deliver a message which at any point 
can be relied on as true. This last position re|)resents slavery as being 
incompatible with a republican governm<>nt. How came Christ then to 
incorporate il into his Church relations which were based upon republican 
principles'? ah and how came Go;! under the old Testament dispensation 
to make il a leadiii^r lecture in tlie Israclilish government which was 
among the earlist republics known '^ How came the distiniruished heath- 
en RepuMirs of Greece atid Rome to flourish !br many centuries, h.jving 
the Institution of slavery at the foundation as the palladium of their Con- 
.stitutions? How happens it. too, that the Republics o! the Southern 
portion of the Unit»'d Slates have worked so well, some of thefu for sixty odd 
years? So fir lio n the Institution of slavery being incompatible with the 
genius of Repuldicanism. it is the great conservative feature ol any Repub- 
lic. JVo Rt'pnidican government can long exist, without the Institution of 
slavery incorporated into it. For where the whole of the lower orders of 
society exercise the elective franchise, the govermnent will be completely 
in their hands: And knavi.-h demagoirucs will soon find the means of rear- 
ing a despotism upon the ruins of cuch a democracy. Hence there is no 
instance in histocy ol the exis'ence for any length of years of a Republic, 
unless a large proportion ol tlie population have been slaves, excluded from 
tlie management of irovernment. wliich has been conducted by the repre- 
sentatives electf-d by the upper strata of society. 

The Insi:tulioii of slavery, then ever has been and ever will be the only 
sure foundation ol' ail republican governments. And its conservative 
jnfl'^ence in favor of r^ puhlicanism does not consist chiefly in the fact of 
its curtaiiiiienf ol universal sullrage. but in the almost unobserved fact of 
its uniting capita! and labor. It is tliis peaceful trait in the Inst tution of 
slavery that constiitites it a leading ingredient in the best social state. This 
conspicuously shows the wisdom ol" God in its appointment and its estat)- 
riient among ids favorite people; and dignifies Christ's approval and contin- 
uaneeof it in his church as firming the best social condilioii of the Caucasian 
and Canaanitish races. For where this sort of slavery exists as the basis 
ill' the Botiui .state, all clushing between capitalists and laborers is excluded 



IN ANSWER TO MR. CAMPBELL. 4B 

and the whprlp of govprrinipnt work prriontlily : And roiitentnipnt anrl peace 
must be iii<)!?t I kely to ni^n in the bosodi o!"siic.li socii-ty. On the other 
hand, wlit-re sluvtry the provision in the divine »^ranlr('nl^'llt I'or the races 
of Noah is Jiltmipted to be exclnded from the aociai tJt.ite. tvm though 
the lower onifrs of people be deprived of the elective tranchise. still the 
disorganizing principle of antagonisn\ between capital and labor 
would eiibject government to those popular broils and civil conMnntion&, 
wiiich no form of social restraint short of a dt-siwtism t-ould suffice to 
prevent or contrt)l. 

For the want of the basis of slavery, the Mexican Repuhlicf; have ever 
been oscillating between revolnlion and anarchy. Bec.au.-^e of tl « 
absence of slavery in the French Republic, their exjx j-jnieni is destined to 
inevitable failure ; and liie non-slavelmlding states ol liie Anierii-an Re- 
public having gained the ascendency, tiie demaLfouijes of this country, will 
usurp liie contnd of the govenmieni. and the da\ s ol this iireai Republic 
will be speedily nundiered ! and the State Republics ia the Southern por- 
tion of the < onfederacy be doomed to desola'iim and ruin uidess they hav© 
the courage and the foresight lo take care of tinniselves, w' ile they have 
the abllitv I'or self jinsirv.ition. But Mr. Campbell has ovcrlooketl histo- 
ry both sacrtd and prol'ane and has based ins notions of the incompatibili- 
ty of slavery witii the principles of repuhlii-anism u()on tiie liogrnas of Eu- 
ropean monarchi.'^ts and private interpretation of abolitioiasin. Tims upon 
the ipsi dexcrunt of European despots. Mr. Campbell, himself a Ibreigner 
must join with the enemii s of our c(mntry abroad and tiieir dupes at the 
North to revolutionize tlie governments oi this land which our ihrel'atherg 
established u| on Bilde principles of Republican freedijm. it nmst be done 
too at once, althfiuu'h at the risk of drenciiino; the earth with the blood of itg 
inhabitants. What sort of an evil genius does Mr. t'. suppose lias gained 
the control of bis c.ascience ? and has he looked into the charicterislics 
of "the genius of the aije." which he says is opposed to slavery, and upon 
whose authority, he feels himself pressed in sjiirit to intermeddle with oth- 
er mens atlairs ? From t' ; fact tha' all the posiiions of this genius are 
subversive of tlie Bible and its Institutions, does it not occur to Mr. G. 
that the '-gemus of tiie age" must be tiie Devil, liiat arch fiend of dark* 
ness. the great enemy ol God and man? W hat other genius does Mf* 
Campbell imagine, would dare stand lortli in avovveil opposiiir^n to a 
leading Instiiuiion ol God prominently presented, and i'earfully sanctioned 
in every part ol the Eible ? '-The genius of the aire'" then being against 
God and the BiliJe ci.n be no other than the spirit of infiiielity upon Mr. C's. 
testimony. This genius of infidelity ••the spirit that now worked in 
the children of discditdienc.e,''' everv where, has been for sometime devel- 
oping ilseli in this ciuiiiiry: Heretolbre in the varied forms ol fanaticism ur>- 
der the sc ver:. I di\ isions ol' Deism. Mormonism, i\iillerism, Oweiiism, aboli- 
tionism an<l otlnrs. too te lious to mention : But now it lias tiie acce.-^sion to 
its ranks ol' Cani|)bcllisai ! Be it so — nevertheless I cannot thmk tliat many 
ofMr. Campbell's sect at the South will be so blind te their best interest and 
their couiitr_\'s wellare, as to tollow so recreant a leader in this fanatical 
movement : Espeiially since i e has been so rash as thus plainly to exhibit 
to public iraze ills cloven foot against the South. We can hut think I e 
will be compi lied to seek some other region as the t' eatre of his reformSj 
whether reiijjious or political. Has Mr. C liirjjotton the description of 
Virginia Character given by himself to the Abolition dejuitation ? that the 
Virginians were an intelligent bijih nunded piojle. ki ov\ ing their own 
business and In- titutions much belter tlian yankce abolitionists ; and would 
treat with merited contempt, any attempt of the l\oilhern fanatics to dic- 
tate to them on the subject ofelavery ? and has not Mr. C. become suiB- 



4'6 ' A DEFENCE 00 SLAVERY, 

ciently acqiinitited with the people orKenturky and oftlieptntps South and 
West ol' Viririiii I. to know that he gu-e llie traits of chararti r for which 
llie Soiitli ia G neral is ihstiMifuislirii ? Does he not ptrt eive that fiis 
presumptuous intiTiiieildlinir, will niet't tlie same imiii/nant repulse which 
lie suifiTfSted to ilu; Q,aal<tT Dt-putation. would I e the result of their mis- 
sion to the sensitive Viririnians ? and what moreover is tl e general char- 
ncter of ,Vir. Camj)h;ll's drsciples everywhere in the South and especially 
in Kentucky, wlicre he hoasis of their numbers'? Art- they not remarka- 
ble lor possL'ssing investigating minds? are they not in common with 
their Southern lillow cilizens disiinguisned for that independence of 
thought and cliaractrr, which repudi.itis the spirit of sycoph.mtic attach- 
ment to any earthly leader'; must not their disccridng piitrioiism compel 
tlieni to reject disdain ully the present attempt of a religious leailer to take 
advantage of their pijus sympathies tow ird him and uaiwires to them 
palm upon tlfcm a poliiical heresy subversive of their personal rights ?nd 
(d'their country's good — whde it at the same time, would in; ruinous to the 
health and happiness of their contented slaves, now resting in safety 
among them? VV'dl not Mr. Campbidl's disciples in Kentucky, then take 
in high dudgeon, his high lianded attempt to I'orce upon them a system of 
political economy, which upon his own testimony is based upon the broad 
platform of intid< I'ty, and comes connnended to them chietiy by the opirn 
ions of European monarcdiists? those lyrant rulers of the op|)res3ed, in the 
lands of iron despoiism. who have ever shown the most marked hatred to- 
ward the American people with tlieir representative governments and re- 
■j)ublican Institutions. They would rejoice in etlecli jj' ;imongst us divisions 
and strife, and delight in nothing more than the de.-^trui'liou of the Ameri- 
can Union and total subversion of our national liberty: Thai great boon 
obtained lor us by our forelatliers at the s.-.crifice ol their blooil and treas- 
ure and consecrated to us their posterly. under the safe guards of the Con- 
stitution, that irreat monument of iht ir wisdom and prudenee. Although 
the religious followers of Mr. C may not be disposed to n hnquish his Evan- 
gelical tenets, vet. will they not, while holding on to their reliifious senti- 
ments under another name, than that of Carnpbellism. repudiate Mr. C. 
and his pohtnnil seiitiments as worthy to be assoi-iaied. lumseli with anti- 
iiluvery I'anatice and his ubolilioii doctrines with the isms of the North. 
July lb49. A SOUTHEKiN CLEUul'MAiS. 



APPENDIX. 



NOTR A.— The f lloxvin? is from the Cincinnati Enq'iirer, quoted by the South* 
e'rn Press oo irern ntr Jiiinnica : 

"Tlie cliH'f <ii pc) ice ill the cii y of KintJ-ton,on the I.sland (>' Jemaica, is a colored 
man. We in ■( hini on the ^jlearnei- Pniladelphia last su.nmer, while o aling^ at 
tiiat l>ori arij found iii n (|iiile iiitelliKt lit. He tornieily bel .iifieii to vir vS evensore 
of Virginia, r m iivv;ty to Cviadu and thence ma.fe hi.s whv on a sail vessel to Ja- 
miaca, wliere he bframe p pu ai- wiih the ;iui horitii-s and was ; loiju ted to hi» 

post of h r. Hi'vv.i- dissati-licd v< i h the l-iand and .-apd lie wonld |ref. r livinjj^ 

with his mslcr i'l Vi gini '. if he coii.d be reinstated in his homi- and confidence. 
Histestim > ly coirob n-.ilcd bv thons.imjs of vvaliuiit; wit:ic^<e . who ff ck around 
pisst'ngeis on shore f) cti .nty, Wiis that he h.td never seen a col led c-mmnnity 
in slave stales so d-l'a-'ed, so indolent, so vici' us, and so im: ov<-rfshed as are the 
free nfgn.es ot J.nriaicii VVe comd not d .nt>t tins imn's Icstiinorits. A walk about 
the once H -uiichnii; a; d beiutilul city, and s. ride ihion-b the conm ry every moment 
intioduc'd eorro) MMlnu fi"'s, m a rn^g.^d rible of rni-n, w. m-u and children, 
S'-ma cri'ivdin^ ihe d )cks oi fl i -kinjj after you in the streels, or li>i)i2in<r ipon the 
side vvaiks ami .a.ies. Itie in(i8t mi e aiile beingrs in apiifarance, ihatvve had eve- 
seen, and ta truth had ever c 'iiCv.'iv< d We did not vv 'ndcr riieii liiat the tuoll-, of 
titne had wok d, a id defaced every ihin^ that had ever 8ourisl cd in beauty and 

priispentv. Ii vv,i< not in Irntli ihe m.rk ot time — it wis ihe (iec\i\ ot indolence 

the cnnnblinj; walls abiiidoned to a pcpie a';ciislomed to serviiiide and naturally 
prone to slotiiiiiiiie<s. A d, v\e do nut wondei, now, that tin- h gfisiahve and crown 
authorities i! f lai m».;nific it Inland, are devising a scheme to i.iirodi'Ci- laborers 
u;jon f from am ing the in. re iiueiligent and energetic Cuiored populaiion of the 
tlnilc-i Stal. s 

fcievcd of slive servitude by the emancipation a<"t of Parliament, fie colorpd 

p?.i>.: ot Jmnica, I'u vvn m thesniar plant-rs relied f ^r labor, hwe m concei-ced 

tl/idia of ineioin, an 1 set mi ig;y and in truilish \vn tiiem.-eivcs ictally in- 

(jjrent to ad il-i iluiie>. obli^; .iio.is and pi inciplcs. Tl.cy hive in a o d meas- 

/, abaiidonid labor and made llieir chief dependence upon Ihe bou.lies of nature 

/her fruits. Tlic lesuit nalinallv lollows— an abandonment o( the idantations to 

/c bl-i^iit of ihe thistle and the weed and a most consumint; deprecidion in values- 

riiittations which yielded a rrincely revenue bi;; a tew years ai;o, were pointed out 

he buildings whr h b re the list ves'ige of eleg-ance and laste, crnmbliiif^ and tot- 

prin^, fences dem lislud, >liubbery dcslroyed, and the soil jriven up to ilie growth 

»f the cictn- and ihi: >;raziu of ilie mule. Uiiiver ai freedom, s iliere it is true, 

jvery vhere a id ai nun.l ; and so are nniversal in. scry am nij; I le po,julalion and a 

universal bli-hi upnii all that once m lUe up mh Island paid'se 

There is a hi^n moral in all lhi>', imt statesmen and pi)litic.ii economists in this 
Country will d.ller in tr icinji its cause as weil as in makin^i its applic itio i." 

NO IE B.— I he -yracuse Star (New York riiate) lately published the following 
specimen of North -rn ne^io fred im qn ted in a Viri/inia ja ler 

"VVe are iiif am ;.l by o.u; nf ih : |i..|ice officers off iis city , t lat out of fify or sixty 
male tuj;itive sla.es, '• ho w. re, unlii recemly residj.its if this city only two werfe 
regularly em.doyed as lab.rers — many ol Ihem gained a piecarious liveliln od as run- 
ners to honse.1 of i l-fame, and a m. j rity were suppmied by chariti, Suoh we are 
intormed isilic uje leral cjndiiion ot the fuirjiives, who have taken up their resi- 
dence in our lar^c Tovviis and Cities, where be it oh.^erved. they iis-ualiy ro' gre- 
gute. In Ca lada, als i, tney are regaided by the ihii.ibii.mts with distrust and 
aversion. There are Ivv i towns in C.iii..di west in winch a ne^io is not a. lowed to 
set his leet thr.jng 1 fear til it he miy become a burden npo i the tiis payers." Do 
not the North m:i people see that tney are bringing tiie curse of God noon thcra- 
aclres and the neijroes in thus decoyini; a id harbjring them The lollowing state- 
Biint was hinded m ' by i trentleman of high standinj^ ii Charleston, who former 
ly resided in tiie up.ier .i.irt of South Carolina an I knew persona'ly Ihe case related- 
•'In Ihesprmjr ol la47~. Peter, a black. smith ihe pro|ieitv of H H. Thompson of 
Sparta:»burg, C. H .S. C, who had by industry paid his master the purchase money 
and intereait tnereon, rece ved a certiticate ot freedom, as far as the luwsofth* 
Slate would ailoxv, from his m.ister; was shipped on steatner Souihem Ir nn Char- 
l^Aloa to H<m York, waer< lie r«»iuamed ai>uui wix utoutiiB, otUd^Turiuj t'O pr«cur« 



APPKNDIX. 

xvorlc, and ap')lir(1 fo the a<;s'impfJ friends of thp n^gror*, who never filled fo ma?<» 
tile }:ri-.it. si ur f '-sinns ■ f kin Iness and n'lr.ii-d fir tinn, a'ld bt>ii'^<>d slave holders 
hilt nc-Vt^r iiid'cd hin., Ilion^h he was a sub r honest iiidnstrnns ;tnd i:oi)d w iiktn:in. 
Alter liiivin^ fxpended naily all hi-i m 'hh*, h ofJerid !■> hib >r at a v<;rv low pnco 
and did s..— aid at hist «.biained funds snfficient and ivfnrned awnin info sla- 
vory ol which he wms Itdly warned hi'f.ire he left the slate and said ' e iniinilely 
preiered ^o lo live, ihm I'lreniai i at the North in lh^' mil.-it of aliolitio'iJHts, who 
m uie great piii, s-imi,.s iif triemlship. bnt were by no mem-t so m i^h th • friends 
oftlie ne;;r() ,us were their owner>in the slave states — noi did negroes have half 
!lie cotnlnrts at ihe Noi til as tl ose who are slaves t><iutli.'' 

VVc nave seen «everd revcltini' acccunts of the condition of negro freedom in 
fhesostv,e>l li pivnic of H.tyli, (the ancient aid once fl mrishmi; Isl md i f St. 
D(iuiiu'ii) tmniwhiih we inlended to give anthentic ()n'iiarioiis hut can not lay 
hands nj.)ou llie docuinenis. 1 he representation is, that the ccuTitry, is already bor- 
dering u|io,i a slate ol tlown riirht barhari!-m. Thefie-ple m istiy ao naked, have 
bui a |jrocaincis suhsisteiice — are kept in abject vassalage u ider their so called 
Einperur and ni-i L/u ves, win have iiii|ioitc i a disl in^uished idol gnd from Africa, 
indicati iij- t lat idiilatrv iiiu-t soo \ be their pievailinir ieli<rion. 

No r,; i;- I 1 I I lit.M 1 to ihe q lot It ion troin the Jmrnal ot' an Xfrican Crui-fer wiven 
on pages 7, -., lO i.i rdfe cnce to Mr. Clays I'lVit n u'ro ?ii"a lizc: I will mj rio Tthat 
I liaVe a. e.i i.i t ,e ( c ii'.se of this year a leiter from an intellijrent. fiee b:ack woman 
to her taihe.rintn s vici litv — in wiich siie imolonn^ly boirs iiin to sen 1 her cloth 
for coin non do in^, shi)es, provisions and mo ley, &,c Indicatint^ that she was 
experieii.! jr rather n..d li nes in Liberia. Her hnso.nd is a sober pr us man and 
a good ulac.vs.aiih, wlio i i tliM neigrhhorhotjd g<)" as m i h vork as he couid do at 
^.OJ to ijpl 5 ) per day aid himself and hor-e boarded. I hev went to Liberia in 
1&4S). 'I'iie lieah ■ a id nr siieily ol the colony may be infer d Ire m the f.ict that 
the pnpulai.o i hts, perh.ipi diminislied Ir) n the original nnnber of emigrants by 
several Inousand, whereas llie tra ispirtaticns for the last 3J years ou^lit t> have 
iiiTeas (1 naiiiraiiy lo Irom a ihiid to one lialt of theoi-ig;i al number of ihe colonists. 

As to iie^ro iruecioiii a n iii' lae whites in the Soif'i.'rn Srates, such is the 
pronene-s ol most ir e i.ej,roes to idleness and coi. sequent dissipation — both sexes— 
Jiie maL- t ) i.rnnkeiiess aim leinales to pri stitulion, that coin] arison lo a free negro 
has beean ■ pri>vcil).al lor being Ih-^ lowjst term of reinMicli, even ainoiK ii>c 
slaves tneoieelve-, an.l yet the ftn'e fathers of these free negrous were emiicipitcd 
becau-e '.liiieir special ^.lod traits of Character. How soo i dei;cner itcd when 
manai^ing loi tli insjives! Fora glance at ttie orijinal nej:i-od 'in iu "k at sketches 
of .African Inst .ry : -a s Fr si, aiitiior ot tr.ivels in Aiiiea, aficr slating that no 
Africa 1 tiibjs iia : ever tani 'd tli.'j elep''a it, says : "Ir is a still m ire striking 
fact th.it lu) aegio a id in leed no Africati nition, sivc tli ; Kgy itii is, Abysinians 
ati<i partially (he .\ i nui ansever p xsessed a literature or hid ingenuity l'> invent 
any alpiaier, li > vever nidi" j) 1;I4. As to honesty in \frifa, travellers have 
scarcely b i-n able to letai i a >in..:le suit of clothes : sa\s Frost, p, 158, concerning 
Muagi) Far.i, in o le .nslan^e oi tht-lr plnnd Ting him. '■ Afier this some of them 
«'3nt nw.w k\ il,i his .lorsr and tne remainder stood co isideri i^ whether they should 
loave linn q iite iia.ced o ai imv h m soin 'thing to shelter liini from tiie sun." 

In regaij ti preva.'U -e o slavery in Africa, savs l^ark : "The Klav -s in Africii 
are nsd. ly in pro mrii m ol tiireeto one to the frecm? i '' Ir.v p l33 A^ain he 
savs, "of yj ) priso icr-i tikei upon one occasion only 7.^ were fieeinen." "■Slavery 
in Africa A i L<;.i^lish gnlleinan, who his travelled If y ars in western Africa, 
where he has nco i li ivern t of s una ..f ihj most imp iriant English p issessions, 
slates ihat iro la il.', nm '.le ithi of all the po nilaiion of M'nca are at tins moment 
slaves; that in s j iie pl.tces the si ives are t.i the fiee as tliirly to one ; lhat slaverj' 
Uiere is .if a I s I ts f o n ih it whicli gives the ma4 ;r 1 1- most ahsnjnte control to 
that in w i,e i in - sia/e has the c ini.non privilege o' in rn > r of the fam'ly and may 
ra so:neciies i. merit h s m ister's property." .N. Y. Jo.irnal Com. for JS-ll. 

With ills i-evie.v oi ur-gro historv, who will be so de.if to the voice of reason and 
blind to the evidence ol fa ts as not to admit that Soiilhcrfi slavery exhibits llie beet 
condition of tne negr" riccand I hat the special blessing of God evuie illy resting 
n|)on both t.ie hlicK a id wliita races in the relation ot servant and master in tl>« 
S(/ciety < f ihe Souih bIiovnb such social eiatc to be of Goil's a) nrintment. 

August IbJl. A fcOUlHEKiN CLEliGYMAN. 



